BEIRUT, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab said on Thursday that the border demarcation dispute between Lebanon and Israel must be resolved before September.
"The attack on Gaza delayed the demarcation file. We do not have infinite time to deal with this issue. The deadline must expire before September to preserve stability," Bou Saab said in a statement by Lebanon's Presidency.
His remarks came following his meeting with President Michel Aoun to discuss the latest developments on border demarcation and other issues.
Bou Saab said that Lebanon is in contact with U.S. Energy Envoy Amos Hochstein who is still exerting efforts on the issue.
"Hochstein moved directly to Israel after he visited Lebanon but did not return to Beirut yet," Bou Saab said.
Lebanese authorities are trying to reach a solution with Israel to end the dispute over maritime borders which has escalated after Israel sent June 5 a vessel operated by London-based Energean to the Karish field, which Israel claims is within its economic zone while Lebanon claims in disputed waters.
In response, Hezbollah launched three unarmed drones in a reconnaissance mission toward the field while threatening that it has the "military and logistical capacity" to prevent Israel from pursuing its activities in the field.
U.S. Energy Envoy Amos Hochstein visited Lebanon on July 31 to discuss border demarcation with Lebanese authorities and announced a day later that he is optimistic about reaching an imminent solution. ■
