Aoun Denies Pushing to Appoint Son-in-Law as Army Chief
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun has denied that he proposed his son-in-law Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz to be appointed army chief.
“I am always criticized over my alleged intentions and thoughts,” Aoun told al-Akhbar newspaper in the second part of an interview published on Wednesday. “I never said I wanted him (Roukoz) army commander. Journalists said so.”
Aoun stressed that he had suggested five names and called for studying the file of each one of them to see who is the most competent to become army commander.
The FPM chief reiterated last month that a decision to extend the term of more than 20 officers in different posts violates the adopted norms.
His stance reportedly came as a result of a decision by Defense Minister Samir Moqbel not to include the name of Roukoz on the list of extension.
Roukoz's tenure ends in October 2015 while the term of army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji expires at the end of September.
Asked how close he thought he is to Baabda Palace, Aoun said: “As close as an agreement among the Lebanese.”
The FPM chief said in the first part of the interview that was published on Tuesday that reaching the country's top Christian post has never become his ultimate objective.
“It is the means to achieve what we aspire for … The country is moving like a lost ship that needs a compass,” he said.
In Wednesday's interview, he expressed optimism on the FPM dialogue with the Lebanese Forces. “There are difficulties of course and things need time,” Aoun said.
FPM and LF officials are holding talks to set the stage for a meeting between Aoun and LF leader Samir Geagea, who are both presidential candidates and whose rivalry is partly to be blamed for the vacuum at Baabda Palace.
Their meeting will be preceded by the announcement of a document that the two parties are drafting.
“Ninety percent of Christians want dialogue,” Aoun told al-Akhbar.
Asked about his ties with al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri, Aoun said relations improved after their last meeting in Beirut.
He also said that Hariri has changed.
“Fighting terrorism brought together antagonists,” Aoun added.
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