U.S. State Department Official to MTV: Rome Political Talks to Resume in Early September
A U.S. State Department spokesperson told MTV that the technical talks in Rome concluded Thursday after three days of constructive and detailed discussions.
The two sides finalized the details needed to begin implementing the pilot zones and other elements of the trilateral framework, including common definitions for verification mechanisms and area clearance operations.
The spokesperson said the discussions also covered a U.S.-led diplomatic track to complement the trilateral framework, including the possibility of having a third party verify clearance operations carried out by the Lebanese Army. Separate bilateral talks were also held with the Lebanese delegation on securing the necessary support for timely reconstruction.
The spokesperson said Washington was encouraged by the direction of the process, noting that the framework has entered the implementation phase and that the first zones are now operational. The working groups have also aligned their terminology, maps and procedures.
The spokesperson acknowledged the challenges facing the process, saying Hezbollah is seeking to obstruct it, while both Israel and Lebanon are democracies facing domestic political pressures. However, the spokesperson said the fact that the teams are meeting, communicating directly and discussing possible solutions represents a structural change in the process.
The political track will resume in Rome in early September, while consultations will continue in Beirut, Jerusalem and Washington in the meantime.
MCG4L will also continue working to ensure the successful implementation of the first pilot zones over the coming weeks.
