US continues mediation in Lebanon-Israel maritime border dispute

WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (KUNA) -- Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department Vedant Patel said Thursday his country "remains committed to facilitating negotiations between Lebanon and Israel to reach a decision on the delimitation of the maritime boundary." "Progress towards a resolution can only be reached through negotiations by the two governments," he said while updating reporters on the recent visit to Lebanon by US Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Advisor Hochstein. "We welcome the consultative and open spirit of the parties to reach a final decision which has the potential to yield greater stability, security, and prosperity for both Lebanon and Israel, as well as for the region, and we believe that a resolution is possible," Patel added.
Early this month, Hochstein, who leads the Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) at the US Department of State, visited Israel and Lebanon as part of the US mediation in the indirect talks between the two countries to resolve their dispute over offshore gas fields. (end) asj.gb