Israel and Lebanon concluded a new round of talks in Rome on Wednesday, moving closer to launching a pilot project, under which control of parts of southern Lebanon would be transferred from Israeli forces to the Lebanese army.
Israel and Lebanon have made progress on a mechanism for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the first two "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon and agreed to continue negotiations at a later date.
The talks in Rome focused on implementing the trilateral framework reached in Washington on June 26. The two sides further clarified the sequence and conditions for the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), the disarmament of Hezbollah, and the verification of the Lebanese state's effective control over the areas concerned, according to a report by Italian news agency Agenzia Nova.
Citing sources close to the negotiations, the report said that Israel is expected to proceed with the withdrawal from the first two pilot zones because the designated areas are considered posing no direct threat to Israel's security.
The pilot project is intended to test the Lebanese army's ability to take control of the areas, remove military infrastructure and prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing a presence before the mechanism is expanded to other parts of southern Lebanon.
The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon announced on Wednesday that the talks in Rome had concluded after two days of "productive and positive discussions," adding the two sides agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process.
The process will be finalized and implemented in the coming days, the U.S. embassy said in a statement.
The talks will move to expanded technical discussions on implementing all aspects of the trilateral framework to reach a comprehensive agreement between Lebanon and Israel, according to the statement.
The sixth round of talks, held at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, followed a previous meeting in Washington late in June aimed at advancing a ceasefire framework. The parties also agreed to hold another round of talks, with the date yet to be determined.
According to Lebanese media reports, officials from both sides will hold a virtual meeting on July 24 to finalize the boundaries of the "pilot zones" and to set an official date for implementation.
Israel, Lebanon conclude Rome talks
China on Thursday called on the international community to find a home for the Secretariat of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) best positioned for its efficient operation, pointing out problems with the joint candidature by Belgium and Chile.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular press briefing after Belgium and Chile on Nov. 6 announced the decision to join their candidatures for the seat of the secretariat. This joint candidature provides for the secretariat being based in the city of Valparaíso, Chile, the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) will be installed in and operating from Brussels, and Brussels will host the meetings of the subsidiary bodies.
Mao said that earlier this year, China nominated Xiamen to bid for the seat of the Secretariat of the BBNJ Agreement, noting that the candidature has quickly received the support of the majority of the Parties to the Agreement.
"By seeking an unauthorized backroom deal on issues that should be determined by the Conference of the Parties (COP), the joint candidature is problematic in at least six aspects," the spokesperson said.
First, it contravenes the stipulations of the BBNJ Agreement. According to the agreement, the seat of the secretariat, the specific modalities for the operation of the CHM, including its installation, as well as where the subsidiary bodies hold their meetings shall all be determined by COP, and the CHM shall be managed by the secretariat, she said.
Belgium and Chile traded under the table what should be collectively determined by all Parties to the Agreement. This is a violation of the stipulations of the agreement and an act of disrespect to the authority of COP, Mao said.
Second, it contravenes procedural justice, Mao said, adding that the choice of the secretariat seat and the development of the CHM are two items of different nature scheduled to be collectively determined by COP through separate decisions.
The Belgium-Chile proposal bundles the two together in an attempt to force it as a package upon other Parties, which is against applicable procedural rules and a hijack of the Parties' will, she said.
Third, it contravenes established international practice. Stressing that the management of the CHM is a key mandate of the secretariat, Mao said in the practice established by other international treaties like the Convention on Biological Diversity, the secretariats and CHMs are located in the same place.
The Belgium-Chile proposal, which locates the Secretariat and the CHM separately across the ocean, will without a doubt raise the operation cost, lower management efficiency, and increase the financial burden on the Parties to the Agreement, Mao said.
Fourth, it contravenes equitable geographical distribution. The vast majority of major global institutions are based in Europe, with none located in Asia. Developing countries have been calling on global institutions to redress this long-existing injustice and bring about greater fairness and equity, the spokesperson said.
She said Brussels is already home to the headquarters of NATO and the EU. "If this non-coastal city were to host the CHM of an ocean-related treaty as well, it would further widen the digital divide to the detriment of the shared interests of the Global South."
Fifth, it contravenes fair competition. Noting the BBNJ Secretariat is tasked with contributing to global ocean governance, and the selection of its seat should be a fair and friendly process in keeping with the rules, Mao said the Belgium-Chile proposal, however, politicizes the bidding process and attempts to divide Parties into camps.
It not only undermines the principle of fair, friendly and healthy competition, but also negates the essence of multilateralism, she said.
Sixth, it contravenes the original commitment. Chile first made the bid citing its significance for the Global South. Yet according to the new proposal, Chile will no longer assume the substantive functions of the secretariat. Belgium, for its part, only seeks to host the CHM and thereby has in effect relinquished its bid for the secretariat seat, Mao said.
Stressing that the adoption and entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is a victory of multilateralism, Mao said its implementation likewise needs to serve and advance the common well-being of all humanity.
"China firmly supports multilateralism and the cause of the UN, and is committed to promoting and improving global ocean governance. As one of the first signatories and Parties to the Agreement and the largest assessed-contributor to its budget, China has the will, capability and confidence to provide strong support and backing for the operation of the Secretariat. China is full ready. We look forward to working with all Parties to the Agreement to keep selection of the Secretariat seat proceeding in the right direction, and uphold the overall and fundamental interests of the international community, especially those of developing countries," Mao said.
China points to problems with Belgium-Chile joint candidature to host UN marine biodiversity secretariat
