McCain Meets Jumblat, Says Syria Rebels Need Safe Zone but Not in Lebanon

Republican U.S. Senator John McCain, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Friday held talks with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, wrapping up a two-day visit to Lebanon.

After the meeting, McCain clarified that he was not referring to Lebanon when he mentioned Thursday the need to create a safe zone for the Syrian opposition, noting that Turkey or Jordan could provide such a haven.

He noted that such a plan was not feasible in Lebanon.

The top U.S. senator said the Arab Spring will spread to the entire world, including Russia and China.

McCain described Jumblat as a friend and a great leader, saying their relation survived despite tough circumstances.

The U.S. senator thanked Jumblat for his support for the Syrian people, voicing his belief that President Bashar Assad would eventually leave power but noting that his ouster would take longer without external aid to the Syrian opposition.

McCain also lauded Jumblat’s stances on the Arab Spring.

For his part, Jumblat hailed the U.S. senator’s visit, saying “he defended Lebanon’s independence and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon which was established to fulfill justice in the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri and an elite group of politicians, intellectuals and journalists.”

“Today, McCain is supporting the Syrian people’s right to decent living and dignity in the face of the Syrian regime’s current killing machine, and God willing through his efforts, the efforts of the international community and the Syrian people’s sacrifices, this people will earn all its rights,” Jumblat added.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Friday that McCain’s visit to Lebanon was aimed at holding talks with a number of officials on the Syrian crisis and its effect on Lebanon.

Widely-informed sources told the newspaper that his trip is aimed at following up on the Lebanese position on the crisis.

“The visit is more of an assessment rather than a political or routine one,” they added.

McCain last visited Lebanon in May during which he toured the Lebanese-Syrian border in the North and inquired about the stances of Lebanese officials on the developments in Syria.

Earlier on Friday, McCain held talks with President Michel Suleiman on bolstering bilateral ties, U.S. military aid to Lebanon, and the latest developments in Syria.

He met on Thursday with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, after which he stressed the need to set up a safe zone for the rebel Free Syrian Army and the opposition to allow them to organize their affairs, carry out trainings, and cater to the wounded.

He later clarified after talks on Friday with Mustaqbal bloc head MP Fouad Saniora that he was not talking about Lebanon when he spoke of a safe zone for the FSA.

McCain also met with Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji on Friday.

Meanwhile, Hizbullah issued a statement on Friday in which it said that “McCain’s call from Maarab to create a buffer zone in northern Lebanon … represents a blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a brazen interference in Lebanon’s domestic affairs.”

“This interference totally contradicts with the self-distancing policy declared by the government, which is in the interest of Lebanon and the Lebanese,” Hizbullah added.

The party called on the Lebanese government to “make Washington understand that Lebanon is neither an American protectorate nor one of the banana republics on which the U.S. administration can dictate its foreign policy.”