Lebanese Prime Minister: Talks with Israel are for Ceasefire Implementation, Not "Peace Negotiations"

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed today, Wednesday, that the ongoing talks with Israel within the framework of the Ceasefire Committee do not amount to "peace negotiations."

Salam explained to journalists that the purpose of the "Ceasefire Committee" is to provide the "forum... to implement the declaration of cessation of hostilities." He clearly added: "We have not yet reached the stage of peace talks."

These statements come in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had said that sending an Israeli civilian representative (who, along with a Lebanese civilian representative, joined the Committee) was part of an "initial attempt to lay the groundwork for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon."

Regarding any future path, Salam stated that economic discussions would be part of any normalization process with Israel, but that must follow a peace agreement. He stressed that normalization could follow if both countries committed to the "2002 Arab Peace Initiative," but concluded: "But we are still far away."