Salam Calls for Keeping Army 'Away from Politics', Urges Govt. Parties to 'Put Aside Thorny Issues'

Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Tuesday called on the political parties to keep the military institution “away from politics,” amid a row over the appointment of a new army chief, as he urged the members of the coalition government to “put aside the thorny issues.”

“We reassure the Lebanese that security is fine inside the country and on the borders. It is in the safe hands of the army command and soldiers and the national duty requires continued support for the military force through funds and equipment,” said Salam during a Ramadan iftar banquet organized by Dar al-Aytam al-Islamiya.

The military institution “must be kept away from politics and its achievement must not be insulted,” the PM stressed.

The controversial issue of security and military appointments had prompted Salam to suspend cabinet sessions for more than three weeks.

However, the premier has called on the cabinet to convene Thursday, saying he could no longer wait for the rival political parties to resolve their disputes.

In his speech on Tuesday, Salam insisted that his call for a cabinet session is in line with the powers vested in him by the Constitution.

“I call on everyone to return to their consciences and to act responsibly by putting aside the thorny issues and embarking on addressing people's affairs, away from obstruction and paralysis,” Salam said.

He noted that “a lot of vital and extremely important issues are pending.”

The prime minister also called for the resumption of the parliament's legislative sessions and for the speedy election of a new president.

The Free Patriotic Movement had threatened to boycott cabinet sessions if the agenda is not topped with the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials. However, it announced Tuesday that it will attend Thursday's session in order to address the absence of this topic from its agenda.

FPM leader MP Michel 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.

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

Y.R.