Cabinet Fails to Reach Agreement on Military Appointments

Prime Minister Tammam Salam chaired a cabinet meeting on Thursday at the Grand Serail that failed to reach an agreement over the thorny issue of military appointments.

“No agreement was reached over the issue of military appointments after Defense Minister Samir Moqbel proposed three candidates,” Information Minister Ramzi Jreij announced after the session.

“The suggestion did not garner the needed number of votes,” he added.

“Everyone agrees that the right principle is making new appointments if there is consensus, or else the defense minister would act according to the jurisdiction vested in him by the law,” Jreij said.

The appointments at the military posts is a contentious subject among political forces, and a heated debate was expected during Thursday's meeting especially that the Free Patriotic Movement says it rejects term extensions for any military or security official.

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.

Moqbel said earlier that he plans to propose the appointment of a successor to Kheir whose term ends on August 28, as he pointed out that he has three names as candidates for the post.

Before the meeting began, State Minister for Administrative Development Nabil De Freij said: “We might discuss the trash management file if the PM raises it. As for the (military) appointments, those are not on the agenda and we are waiting for the names that will be proposed by the defense minster.”

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour said that the priority is for the appointment of officials rather than an agreement on a term extension. “Appointments are a priority,” he said.

“The meeting will not be an ordinary one,” said Education Minister Elias Bou Saab as he voiced hopes that it would be “productive and without obstacles.”

Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayyeb said: “We are interested in working with environment caring people to rid our country of pollutants,” referring to the trash file.