Aoun Asks World to Aid Port Probe, Says Lebanon Won’t Bargain on Oil Fortune

President Michel Aoun on Friday called on the international community to assist Lebanon’s probe into the port explosion catastrophe, as he warned that Lebanon will not bargain over its offshore oil and gas resources in the border dispute with Israel.

“The investigation, which is still confidential, must identify who brought the explosive material, why it entered our port and the real side that was behind it,” Aoun told the U.N. General Assembly via videolink.

“Did satellites record something during the moment of the Beirut port explosion? We reiterate our call for the countries that possess information and data that can help the investigation to supply it with them when necessary,” the President added.

Turning to Israel’s recent signing of contracts for oil and gas exploration in the disputed maritime area, Aoun said Lebanon “condemns any attempt to encroach on the border of the Exclusive Economic Zone.”

“The continuous Israeli threats against Lebanon are a main concern of the Lebanese state, the last of which was the Israeli efforts to explore for oil and gas in the disputed maritime area,” he said.

As for the recent formation of a new government in Lebanon, Aoun said the country “counts on the international community to finance vital projects in the public and private sectors in order to revitalize the economic cycle.”

“We also count on it to help us recover the smuggled funds and those resulting from corruption crimes,” he said.

He added: “The new government certainly has major domestic and international challenges ahead in order to win the confidence of the people and that of the international community, after it won the confidence of the Lebanese parliament.”

“With the formation of the Lebanese government after a political crisis that lasted more than a year, Lebanon entered a new phase which we hope will be a promising step on the path of revival,” Aoun went on to say.