Suleiman: My Conscience is Clear over Failure of Security Appointments Settlement
Former President Michel Suleiman noted that the failed settlement over the security appointments would have “violated the rights of Christians,” reported the daily al-Mustaqbal on Sunday.
He therefore expressed his satisfaction with its failure, adding: “My conscience is clear.”
Blame had been directed towards Suleiman's Consultative Gathering and the Kataeb Party over the failure of the proposal.
“The soldier sacrifices himself for the military institution and we have showed our loyalty to the army through our rejection of the suggestion,” said Suleiman, who is a former army commander.
Furthermore, he remarked that the privileges of the president would have also been harmed had the proposal been adopted.
“The security promotions are the responsibility of the head of state, who signs the decrees and refers them to the concerned minister,” he explained.
“The failed plan suggested that this responsibility be handed to the cabinet” that would politicize the issue, Suleiman added.
“We therefore protected the military against political meddling and averted political interests from interfering in security promotions,” he continued.
“This is a major achievement,” stressed the former president.
The thorny issue of military appointments and promotions is one of the main points of contention paralyzing the cabinet's work.
Sources close to Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun have blamed the ministerial bloc loyal to Suleiman for the deadlock on military promotions.
Political rivals had held backstage talks on the promotions in recent days.
Earlier this week, Colonel Maroun al-Qobayati was appointed as commander of the army's Commando Regiment to replace Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, media reports said.
Aoun had been hoping that the promotion of Roukoz, his son-in-law, would keep him in the military and make him eligible to lead the institution.
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