Mashnouq Tackles Appointments Dilemma in Rabieh Talks

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Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq discussed Thursday with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun the controversial appointment of high-ranking security officials at state posts.

The Mustaqbal Movement minister told reporters from Aoun's residence in Rabieh that the matter was thoroughly tackled, refusing to disclose more details.

“The national responsibility compels us to maintain the cabinet's stability and dialogue will continue,” Mashnouq noted.

He pointed out that the two parties are “dealing with the delicate stage (the country is passing through) with a great amount of concern and seriousness.”

“I am betting on Aoun's seriousness and his responsibility towards the nation,” Mashnouq said when asked about the FPM ministers' threats to boycott cabinet.

Aoun has repeatedly threatened to withdraw his ministers from the cabinet over the controversial extension of top security officers' terms.

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 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 Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, who is Aoun's 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 General Jean 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.

Internal Security Forces chief Ibrahim Basbous is also set to retire in June.

H.K.

G.K.

Comments 3
Thumb -phoenix1 21 May 2015, 14:05

All the generals in service today must remain till the many threats hanging over Lebanon are properly addressed. A deserter, a squatter, a featherless chicken, a dirty plotter, a hijacker, a quadruple agent like Michel Aoun cannot be allowed to create and cause so many problems for Lebanon. This blatant greedy liar cannot provide answers nor bring about solutions but compound them. Backed by Syria's lackeys Hezbollah, he is the main architect of the presidential vacuum, he is the main selfish instigator of bringing about so many non-constitutional ideas like the popular vote which now he knows well he will lose outright. Mr. Mashnouq should stop wasting his time with a traitor and BS con artist like Aoun, he is nothing but a major threat to the very survival of Lebanon.

Thumb beiruti 21 May 2015, 15:33

The only dilemma that Mashnouq is tackling in Rabiah is attempting communication with a demented old man whose brain is like a one way valve. It pushes stuff out but is incapable of allowing anything in.

Missing humble 21 May 2015, 15:57

Dear Mr Mashnouq
How can you bet on a madman???