Berri Calls on Lebanese to Support Army, Says Differences with Aoun on Details

Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday that exerted efforts that aim at fortifying the military institution are required, pointing out that he agrees with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on the general principles only.

“Every measure we take that helps safeguard the army and fortify its task in maintaining the country's stability and security is a necessary step that should be fully supported,” Berri told al-Joumhouria newspaper on the 68th Army Day.

He noted that the decision to extend Army Chief General Jean Qahwaji's mandate for two years activates his role and helps keep the army intact.

“The extension formula that was adopted is legal,” Berri told the daily.

On the eve of the Army Day, caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn issued an administrative decision to extend the term of Qahwaji and that of Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Walid Salman for two years after the parliament failed to take such a move.

Qahwaji's term expires on September 23 when he turns 60 – the retirement age for army commanders, while Salman's term ends on August 7.

Most of the political parties voiced support to the extension decision but FPM chief Aoun rejects any attempts to extend Qahwaji's term, describing it as "illegal."

Asked about his ties with Aoun, the AMAL leader said that they both “agree on the general concepts such as Lebanon's Arabism and the resistance, but we have many disputes over the details.”

The FPM chief had previously said that disagreements in the March 8 alliance was not with Hizbullah, a veiled reference to the party's ally, Berri.

For his part, Berri stated coalition is no longer unified.