Moqbel to Extend Term of Army Commander

Defense Minister Samir Moqbel announced on Thursday that he will sign a decision to extend the term of Army Commander Jean Qahwaji today and another decision to extend the term of Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman on Friday.

“We will not accept vacuum in the military institution. I will sign a decision today to extend the term of Qahwaji since the cabinet failed to convene Thursday. I have summoned Major General Salman and asked him to exercise his duties as chief of staff,” said Moqbel in a press conference.

Moqbel had in August last year postponed the retirement of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman and Higher Defense Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir, extending their terms by one year, after the political forces failed to reach an agreement on security and military appointments.

In August 2016, he issued a decision postponing the retirement of Higher Defense Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir until 21 August, 2017.

The appointments at the military posts is a contentious subject among political forces especially that the Free Patriotic Movement says it rejects term extensions for any military or security official.

Moqbel added: “Security threats stare at us from all sides. I cannot find any institution but the military one that has stayed away from political disputes and targets the nation and citizen.”

“No borders can be protected and no dignities can be preserved if it was not for the military institution. We hereby call on everyone including the people and media outlets to keep the military institution away from political enigmas,” concluded Moqbel.