Israel, Lebanon finalize maritime demarcation deal without mutual recognition; Hezbollah mobilization to end

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by reuters -- BEIRUT — Lebanese and Israeli leaders finalized a U.S.-brokered maritime demarcation deal on Thursday, bringing a measure of accommodation between the enemy states as they eye offshore energy exploration. Leaders from Lebanon, Israel and the U.S. have all hailed the deal as “historic” but the possibility of a wider diplomatic breakthrough remains slim. As a result, there was no joint signing ceremony. Lebanese President Michel Aoun signed a letter approving the deal at his palace in Baabda in the presence of the U.S. official who mediated the accord, Amos Hochstein. “We have heard about the Abraham Accords,” said top Lebanese negotiator and deputy parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab, referring to the 2020 U.S.-brokered normalization of ties between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain. “Today there is a new era. It could be the Amos Hochstein accord.” Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed separately in Jerusalem, saying the deal was a “tremendous achievement” that had produced Lebanon’s de facto recognition of Israel. “It is not every day that an enemy country recognizes the state of Israel, in a written agreement, in view of the international community,” Lapid told his cabinet in broadcast remarks.

In a pre-recorded interview aired later on Thursday, Aoun said delineating the boundary would prevent war with Israel and that the full status of the southern border would be resolved later through “dialogue.” But he insisted the accord did not constitute a peace agreement with Israel, after having earlier said the deal was purely “technical” and would have “no political dimensions or impacts that contradict Lebanon’s foreign policy.” Lebanon does not recognize Israel’s right to exist and still considers itself at war with its neighbor, with laws barring contact with Israeli officials. It is not every day that an enemy country recognizes the state of Israel, in a written agreement, in view of the international community. — Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid “Confidence-building measure” Lower-level delegations from each country headed to the United Nations’ peacekeeping base at Naqoura along their contested land border, which has yet to be delineated.

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Lebanese wineries eyeing lucrative Chinese market

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by famagusta-gazette.com -- In the midst of a protracted economic crisis, Lebanese wineries are eyeing the lucrative Chinese market, calling for a joint effort among peers in boosting their sales in China. But tapping a new market requires a big bugdet to be used in areas such as market research, brand promotion and finding the right distributors. In order to grab a humble share of China’s wine market, Lebanese wineries need to work together so that they would be able to sell their products to China in quantities, said Thuraya Karam, owner of Karam wines. “At Karam wines, we have started targeting the Chinese market by participating in a virtual wine-tasting event, but we need more support to be able to enter the market sustainably,” Karam said. For his part, Gabriel Kechichian, a consultant at Domaine Wardy, said he hoped the international shipping costs could go down soon to facilitate the export of Lebanese wine. “Shipping costs have increased tremendously after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, and they are still expensive, but I hope they will drop soon, enabling us to resume our communication with Chinese companies to send our products,” said Kechichian.

Amid the ongoing economic crisis in Lebanon, owners and representatives of wineries highlight the importance of export in order to make up for the drop in the local demand. Emile Majdalani, commercial director at Kefraya, said his company exports two-thirds of its wines, which enables it to generate revenue in U.S. dollars, a currency that is badly needed in crisis-hit Lebanon. “We always wish to export to the markets with the best quality of gastronomy, where people will be curious to have a Lebanese wine on the menu,” said Majdalani. Roy Riachi, owner of Riachi winery and distillery, said his priority in the next phase is to start participating in trade exhibition in China, which is currently not on his company’s export list. “It is one of my key targeted markets,” he said. Lebanon’s financial crisis has had a significant impact on the country’s wineries. Sharp depreciation of local currency and the shortage of U.S. dollars have impeded Lebanese wineries’ efforts to import raw materials that they need.

Delegation Demarcating The Southern Border & Syrian Return

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By David Sadler -- Today, an official Lebanese delegation is heading to the border area of ​​Naqoura, to deliver the American mediator, Amos Hochstein and the United Nations, a letter signed by President Michel Aoun, including approval of the demarcation of the southern border with Israel in its final form, while the demarcation of the maritime border with Syria opened a new page of complexity. It was remarkable that the Lebanese army was “excluded” from this delegation, as well as from the demarcation negotiations with Syria, even though the army is directly concerned with technical negotiations. A prominent security source was surprised by what was leaked about the army’s refusal to delve into the issue of maritime border demarcation. The source explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that “the political leadership withdrew this file from the army, and agreed with the American mediator on Line 23 as a negotiating point without providing justifications.” The security source revealed that “the politicians did not ask the army about its opinion or about its maps and coordinates related to the border with Syria.”

On the other hand, the number of Syrian refugees wishing to return from Lebanon to their country, as part of the voluntary return plan, reversed the numbers announced by Lebanese government figures during the past weeks, amid official assurances that voluntary flights “will continue in the coming days.” A batch of displaced people began leaving Lebanon yesterday morning. Concerned sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the number of returning displaced reached 420 out of 1,500 registered in the Arsal region (border with Syria), pointing out that the numbers “did not match the registered regulations due to some reluctance to return to family ties.” About 750 displaced people were scheduled to leave from several areas, according to the Lebanese General Security, through at least three border points, as part of the “voluntary and safe return of displaced persons” plan.

Zara owner Inditex to transfer Russian business to Lebanese retail Daher group

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by business-standard.com -- Zara owner Inditex has reached an agreement to sell its Russian business to a Lebanese retail and real estate conglomerate, the Spanish fashion giant said on Tuesday in a statement to the country's competition authorities. The buyer is Daher Group and the potential purchase is pending approval from Russian authorities, Inditex said, without disclosing financial details.

Inditex halted its business in Russia on March 5, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine at the end of February. Following other western brands, the fashion retailer closed its 502 shops and stopped online sales. Tuesday's announcement marks the end of Inditex's business in Russia, although the retailer said it would consider returning through a franchise collaboration with Daher if market circumstances changed. The statement to CNMC, the commission that oversees competition in Spain, made no direct reference to the war in Ukraine. The sale agreement includes the transfer of most of the lease contracts of its existing stores, which Inditex says will enable the preservation of a substantial number of jobs generated by the group. Founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega, Inditex' rapid success hinged on the ability to serve new fashion collections in record time. It currently operates several brands globally, including Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Pull & Bear and Oysho.

About Daher Group

The Lebanese Daher family have become billionaires by opening 55 fashion and lifestyle brands in 14 countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The Daher brothers — Wassim, Said, and Hasan — own Azadea Group, a Beirut-based company that own and manage 600 retail outlets, including Max Mara, Sunglass Hut, Massimo Dutti, and Zara, among others. Azadea’s largest collection of stores are in mega malls in the United Arab Emirates, which is the company’s most profitable country, according to a former Azadea senior executive. The company employs 11,000 people and the brothers are estimated to have a fortune of at least $1.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Wassim Daher founded the company in 1978 as a multi-brand clothing store in Hamra Beirut. His brother Hasan and Said later joined the company as managing director and chief executive, respectively.

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Syria cancels Lebanese delegation visit to discuss maritime border delineation

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by naharnet -- The Syrian government on Monday apologized for not being able to receive Wednesday a Lebanese delegation that was supposed to discuss the issue of sea border demarcation between the two countries, an official Lebanese source said. The Syrian government said the apology is related to “previously-scheduled appointments,” Al-Jazeera TV quoted the source as saying. A Syrian diplomatic source meanwhile told al-Mayadeen TV that “there was no agreement over an appointment in the first place for it be canceled.” “The Lebanese side proposed a date that was not appropriate for the Syrian side, but there has been no cancelation of an appointment nor a visit request,” the source added. LBCI television meanwhile said that “the security agencies in each of Lebanon and Syria are not enthusiastic to launch dialogue over the issue of sea border demarcation between the two countries, which was reflected in a letter that was sent to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry this evening through the Syrian embassy.”

The Lebanese Presidency had announced earlier in the day that “following a phone call that President Michel Aoun held days ago with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over sea border demarcation between the two countries, President Aoun tasked Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab with leading a Lebanese delegation to Damascus on Wednesday to hold meetings with top Syrian officials.” Aoun also met with Bou Saab on Monday and “discussed with him the nature of the mission that the Lebanese delegation will undertake with the Syrian officials as part of the demarcation of the maritime border between Lebanon and Syria.”

.Lebanon parliament fails to elect new president for fourth time

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by english.alaraby.co.uk -- MENA -- Lebanon's parliament failed on Monday for a fourth time to elect a successor to President Michel Aoun, with lawmakers divided over a candidate opposed by the powerful Hezbollah movement. Already governed by a caretaker cabinet, crisis-hit Lebanon is hurtling towards an imminent power vacuum, with just days before the current president's term finishes at the end of the month. Parliament speaker Nabih Berri called for another vote on Thursday in the hope of overcoming long-running arguments. A total of 50 lawmakers in Lebanon's 128-seat parliament left their votes blank, many from Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies. Their rivals mostly backed lawmaker Michel Moawad, whose father René Moawad was a former president. He has emerged as a frontrunner since parliament first met to name a president last month. But Moawad, who won 39 votes on Monday, was still was far short the 86 ballots – two-thirds of seats – needed to win.

University professor and activist Issam Khalife took 10 votes, cast by independent lawmakers who emerged from a mass 2019 anti-government protest movement, as well as others. But the required quorum was lost before a second round could be held, after some lawmakers walked out – a recurring scenario in past votes. Moawad's supporters accused Hezbollah and its allies of obstructing a second round of voting to negotiate with other blocs, effectively preventing the election. "No bloc in parliament can impose a president, not Hezbollah nor anyone else," said Elias Hankash, a lawmaker from the Kataeb Party that supports Moawad. Hankash accused lawmakers who left parliament of "systematic disruption", because there were not enough lawmakers to make a vote legitimate.

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