Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour said Thursday that Lebanon has made progress on the exclusive economic zone, and Lebanon's fortunes will not be compromised.

In an interview with the NBN TV, Mansour said "we want to retrieve our rights taken by Israel and we will not give up on our rights" asserting that "diplomatic efforts will be taken to find out a solution."

He pointed that "Lebanon should start exploiting its natural and oil wealth" asserting that the repeated meetings taking place at the "parliament is a proof of the continuous work aimed at exploiting Lebanon's wealth."

On another note, the minister said that "Turkish authorities are committed in solving the (issue of) abducted Lebanese pilgrims, but the issue needs some time."

Syrian rebels kidnapped 11 men on May 11 near the Aleppo town of Aazaz which sits along the border with Turkey. The kidnapped were among a group of 53 pilgrims on board of two buses returning from a religious visit to Iran.