Lebanese President: Rome negotiations saw 'positive progress' on border and prisoner issues

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that negotiations held in the Italian capital, Rome, had seen “positive progress” on the issues of borders and prisoners, expressing hope that practical steps would emerge “soon” in this regard.

A statement issued by the Lebanese Presidency noted that this came during Aoun’s chairing of a Lebanese Cabinet session at Baabda Palace, where the Cabinet was briefed on the outcomes of the Rome negotiations, as well as the results of his recent official visit to Turkey.

He pointed out that the US administration would work on addressing the issues of a ceasefire and experimental zones with the Israeli occupation, revealing an upcoming visit by US General Joseph Clerfild to Beirut to follow up on these files.

Regarding his visit to Turkey and his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Lebanese President highlighted the positive nature of the meeting and Ankara’s readiness to assist in the fields of energy, electricity, oil, and to involve Lebanon in the “Hejaz Line,” emphasizing Ankara’s commitment to the stability of Lebanon and Syria and its support for the extension of the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

These developments come within the framework of the executive understandings of the “Framework Agreement,” signed under US sponsorship to end military confrontations, with the (Special Military Coordination Group for Lebanon) tasked with direct coordination between the parties to ensure the gradual withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces and the extension of Lebanese state sovereignty through the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the southern areas.