Lebanon sends official request to Syria for negotiations on maritime demarcation

2021-04-13 15:06:21 GMT2021-04-13 23:06:21(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

BEIRUT, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Caretaker Lebanese Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe on Tuesday handed an official request to Syria for negotiations on maritime borders demarcation between the two countries.

The memorandum, which was handed to Syrian ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel-Karim Ali, confirmed Lebanon's position on the demarcation of its territorial waters and called on the Syrian authorities to negotiate demarcation on the basis of brotherly ties and the international maritime laws, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

Following his meeting with Wehbe, Ali promised to convey "the desire of the leadership of Lebanon to negotiate all common issues between the two countries including the demarcation of maritime borders."

"Syria always welcomes any coordination between the two countries," he said.

Wehbe's meeting with the Syrian ambassador came after the Syrian government signed last month with a Russian company a contract for oil exploration in a 2,250-square-km zone off the Syrian coast.

Around 33 percent or 750 square km of this zone is claimed by Lebanon as part of its exclusive economic zone. Enditem

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