US Senate Armed Forces Committee member, Senator John
McCain clarified Friday that he did not
mean Lebanon when he spoke of establishing a buffer zone for the Free Syrian
Army; however, he meant that this zone should be established in Turkey or
Jordan. He stressed that the Free Syrian Army needs a safe haven, but not in
Lebanon.
Following his meeting with PSP
leader, MP Walid Jumblatt, McCain said that he is convinced that Syrian
President Bashar Assad will leave the power without our help, but this process will
take time.
In turn, Jumblatt noted that “this
is not the first visit for McCain, and it will not be his last”, adding that “he
is the one who defended Lebanon’s independence and the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon and supported the Syrian people’s right to live in dignity”.
McCain and his accompanying delegation left Beirut on Friday
afternoon, heading to Libya on board a private US jet.
Bidding them farewell at International Rafic Hariri Airport
has been US Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelli.