Moqbel Meets Geagea, Gemayel, Says Army Chief Name to be Discussed in September
Defense Minister Samir Moqbel announced Tuesday that the issue of appointing a new army chief will be discussed in September, the month during which the extended term of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji will expire.
“The name of the army commander will remain pending until September and will be discussed only one week prior to the juncture,” said Moqbel after meeting Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in Maarab.
“The defense minister will then take the necessary measures, in line with the laws,” he added.
Moqbel noted that he would propose “three or four names” for the cabinet to choose from whenever there is a need to appoint a new military official.
In the event of lack of consensus, “the defense minister's jurisdiction allows him to postpone the retirement of certain officers and he can also appoint reserve officers,” he added.
Moqbel also noted that the political leaders he met in recent days did not suggest any candidates for the military posts.
Earlier in the day, the defense minister held talks with Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel in Saifi.
On Monday, he held talks with Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun in Rabieh.
Aoun and Moqbel had been at loggerheads after the FPM chief accused the minister of extending the terms of several military officials in an "illegal" manner.
The cabinet sessions were recently suspended for more than three weeks due to the dispute over the appointments. The bickering later escalated into a thorny debate over the cabinet's decision-making mechanism in the absence of a president, with the FPM accusing Prime Minister Tammam Salam of infringing on the powers of the Christian head of state.
Aoun has been lobbying for political consensus on the appointment of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, his son-in-law, as army chief as part of a package for the appointment of other top security officers.
Y.R.
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