Talks begin on demarcation of Lebanon-Israel maritime border

Leban and Israel prepared to begin indirect talks on Wednesday over ir disputed maritime border, with American officials acting as mediators.

Both sides insist talks are purely technical and t a sign of any rmalization of ties.

U.S. has been mediating issue for about a dece, but only earlier this month a breakthrough was reached on an agreement on a framework for U.S.-mediated talks.

development comes against backdrop of Leban's spiraling ecomic crisis, worst in its modern history, and following a wave of U.S. sanctions that recently included two influential former Cabinet ministers allied with militant Hezbollah group.

Israel, United States, as well as some or Western and Arab countries consider Iran-allied Hezbollah a terrorist organization.

Beirut hopes that oil and gas discoveries in its territorial waters will help it overcome crisis and pay back its massive debt that stands at 170% of GDP, making it one of highest in world.

U.S.-mediated talks are to take place at a U.N. post along border kwn as Ras Naqoura on edge of Lebanese border town of Naqoura. Lebanese delegation will speak through U.N. and U.S. officials to Israelis.

Israel and Leban have diplomatic relations and are technically in a state of war.

y each claim about 860 square kilometres (330 square miles) of Mediterranean Sea as being within ir own exclusive ecomic zones.

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