Lebanon agrees to take part in Rome talks after guaranteeing US participation
Lebanon has agreed to participate in the Rome negotiations after its concerns were calmed and after it secured the presence and sponsorship of the United States, MTV reported on Wednesday.
"This means the negotiations will not be bilateral between Lebanon and Israel, but trilateral under U.S. auspices," MTV said, adding that Lebanon will be represented at the negotiations by Ambassador Nada Moawad and Ambassador Simon Karam.
A Lebanese official had told to al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Wednesday, that Lebanon had rejected an Israeli proposal to hold the sixth round of talks with Israel in Rome.
Italy's foreign ministry had said Tuesday that Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors were due to hold direct talks in Rome on July 15 and 16.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also said Tuesday that the next round of talks with Lebanon would take place in Rome.
“Picking a European capital was made to shorten the distance, after Cyprus was ruled out for several reasons, including the presence of an Israeli base there. Rome was specifically chosen by the United States because its embassy there is a key regional location,” a diplomatic source told MTV.
MTV added that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate virtually in the meeting.
The source noted that the talks are expected to achieve “significant progress, followed by implementation steps, some related to the pilot zones and the Israeli withdrawal.”
The source added that the U.S. is exerting strong pressure on Israel, while the upcoming Israeli elections “are proving to be an obstacle,” to the extent that the Israeli ambassador to Washington has not hesitated to tell the Lebanese ambassador not to overlook this detail, which largely dictates what Israel agrees to or rejects.
However, what is certain in this context is that “the Lebanese track will remain separate from the negotiation or escalation track on the U.S.-Iranian front,” the source said, adding that Washington is “keen to ensure that Lebanon is not affected by the negative developments occurring there.”
Moreover, MTV has learned that Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the tripartite committee – comprising American, Lebanese, and Israeli officials and established under the framework agreement – will settle with his family in Lebanon and will begin his executive duties soon, following the preparations and meetings he has held.
The TV network added that President Joseph Aoun's upcoming visit to the White House will be pivotal and may even be considered "historic," given “the impetus it will provide for moving forward with negotiations and taking executive measures, whether regarding the Israeli withdrawal, the ceasefire, or finding practical solutions to the issue of Hezbollah's weapons.”
Source: Naharnet
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