The resumption of talks, which stalled in November, could unlock significant economic benefits for debt-ridden Lebanon. Lebanon s parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (R) meets with US envoy David Schenker (C) and US Ambassador to Algeria John Desrocher (L) in Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 15, 2020. - -/AFP via Getty Images
April 30, 2021
The United States will send a delegation next week to mediate resumed maritime border talks between Israel and Lebanon aimed at resolving a dispute over potentially lucrative oil and gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean.
A US mediating team led by Ambassador John P. Desrocher will travel to Lebanon on Monday, according to a statement from the State Department. The talks between representatives from the Lebanese and Israeli governments are due to resume on Tuesday.
Cairo: Lebanon is keen to avoid being a “transit” and bring harm on Saudi Arabia or other Gulf countries, Lebanese President Michel Aoun has said.
Last week, Saudi Arabia announced a ban on Lebanese fruit and vegetable products, saying they were used in drug smuggling to the kingdom.
“Lebanon does not accept to be a transit for what can harm the sisterly Arab countries in general and Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries in particular, in view of strong links binding Lebanon with these countries that have always sided with Lebanon under different circumstances,” Aoun told a group of Lebanese industrialists in Beirut.
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Lebanon suffers SR126 mln losses due to Saudi import ban
The Saudi decision to ban the import of fruits and vegetables from Lebanon has had both direct and indirect impacts. The decision will contribute to Lebanon incurring losses exceeding SR126 million (€28 mln), as the produce was the second-highest products being exported to Saudi Arabia (after precious metals and precious stones).
Lebanese fruits exports to Saudi Arabia registered a sharp rise in 2019, compared to previous years, as the value of exports in 2018 reached about SR65 million and in 2019 they jumped by 93.85 percent to reach SR126 million.
Lettuce is considered to be the highest among fruits and vegetables exported by Lebanon to Saudi Arabia, as it reached 7,990 tons with a value of SR37.49 million, followed by 15.16 tons grapes with a value of SR30.85 million. These two products were followed by 15,840 tons oranges with a value of SR24.1 million, 9,090 tons of apples with a value of SR12.98 million, followed by