The former U.S. presidential candidate, republican senator John McCain will visit Lebanon by the end of this week for talks with top Lebanese officials on the current regional issues, the local Central News Agency reported Tuesday, Xinhua reported.
The report said that McCain will meet with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and a number of political leaders "in order to hear their stances regarding the means of reaching a just and comprehensive peace in the region."
McCain will discuss Lebanon's call for the international community "to pressure Israel in order to oblige it of implementing international resolutions and withdrawing from occupied territories."
He will also discuss the stances of the various Lebanese leaders on the issue of Hezbollah's resistance in the face of Israel.
McCain's visit to Beirut comes before the arrival of U.S. special envoy for Middle East peace George Mitchell to the region for talks with the leaders of Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian authority on their stances regarding the peace process.
The report revealed that a top U.S. security official will visit Lebanon next week to discuss Lebanon's military needs before the expected visit of Defense Minister Elias Murr to Washington by the end of January.
"The U.S. official is expected to hold meetings with Lebanon's top officials to discuss a list of priorities related to the military aid dossier carried by Murr to Washington," added the Central News Agency.