BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun said Wednesday it was possible to overcome difficulties that emerged during the latest round of indirect talks between Lebanon and Israel on maritime border demarcations, during a meeting with the US ambassador leading the mediation team.

Aoun said it was possible to overcome the difficulties through in-depth discussions on international rights and the law of sea, during his meeting with Ambassador John Desrocher, who is leading the US mediation in the indirect border talks between Lebanon and Israel.

The president stressed that Lebanon maintains its sovereignty on its land and water, and wants the success of these talks to reinforce stability over the southern border and provide the opportunity to invest in natural resources.

Desrocher also met with Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun, Brig. Gen. Bassem Yassine and members of the Lebanese delegation, according to a statement by the US Embassy in Lebanon.

"The discussions were productive and allowed for a frank exchange of views on necessary steps to reach a long-awaited and mutually beneficial agreement," the statement said.

This comes after the latest round of indirect talks between Lebanon and Israel set for Wednesday was postponed, with the Israeli military installing a new naval buoy in Lebanese waters one day after the postponement was announced.

The buoy was installed within Lebanese waters Tuesday, at Ras al-Naqoura to mark Israels occupation of a disputed area of 860 square kilometers, a Lebanese source had told The Daily Star.

The source said that Israel is attempting to impose the boundary on Lebanese negotiators by installing the buoy and waiting for UNIFILs response to the action.

Lebanon's delegation has pushed for an additional 1,430 square kilometers to be included in Lebanese territory on top of the already disputed 860 square kilometer area. Both sides say the latter is in their respective Exclusive Economic Zone and brings what is now an Israeli gas field into disputed territory.

Currently, Lebanon also disputes 13 land points along the UN-demarcated land border, known as the Blue Line.

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