Qahwaji Calls for Prioritizing National Interests, Diminishing Rift over Appointments

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji reportedly refuses to tackle the presidential deadlock and the extension of high-ranking security officials with any side, stressing that he will carry out his duties and protect the country despite the political rift in the country.

“We should neglect the factional interests and prioritize the national interests,” Qahwaji's visitors quoted him as saying in comments published in As Safir newspaper on Tuesday.

The army chief reportedly lists a number of officers who could succeed him, including Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, who is Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's son-in-law.

However, Qahwaji expressed ire over the public debate on the appointment of a new army chief, which has negative repercussions on the military amid the delicate security situation it's facing.

The army general is certain that the “appointment will have to be carried out and will include Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman.”

The FPM chief has previously rejected any attempts to extend the terms of high-ranking security officials.

Media reports had said that Aoun's main objective is to receive political consensus on the appointment of Roukoz as army chief as part of a package for the appointment of other top security officers.

Roukoz's tenure ends in October while the term of Qahwaji expires at the end of September.

Despite the reports about his insistence to have his son-in-law as army chief, Aoun denied that he had made such a proposal.

The military posts in Lebanon are suffering as the result of the months-long presidential vacuum in light of the parliament's failure to elect a successor for Michel Suleiman whose tenure ended in May last year. The vacuum also threatens the ISF as chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous is set to retire in June.