Report: No Political Connotations for Qahwaji-Roukoz Lunch
The lunch that brought together Army Chief General Jean Qahwaji and the Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz was not a private event and did not have any political connotations, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.
“The lunch between Qahwaji and Roukoz was a public event that took place in the presence of a number of army officers. It was not a solo lunch nor did it have any political connotations,” prominent sources told the daily on condition of anonymity.
“It is normal for the Army Commander to meet with the officers,” they added.
A lunch meeting on Thursday that was scheduled 48 hours in advance, according to reports, brought Qahwaji and Roukoz together. However the two men did not discuss the thorny file of military and security appointments, the reports added.
Defense Minister Samir Moqbel has recently extended the terms of the army commander, chief of staff and the head of the Higher Defense Council despite the Free Patriotic Movement's objections rejecting the term extension of high-ranking military and security officials.
Aoun, the FPM's chief, has been lobbying for political consensus on the appointment of his son-in-law Roukoz, as army chief.
“The army is a disciplined institution that respects hierarchy of command. It does not get into political riddles despite all criticisms,” the sources added.
They also denied the rumors “claiming that a dispute lingers between the Maronite officers inside the military institution.”
“The army is one body and its aims are to distance Lebanon from regional conflicts, to confront terrorism and to preserve stability.”
The meeting comes a day after FPM supporters held street protests against what Aoun terms as the violation of the rights of Christians as well as Moqbel's decision to extend the tenures of the top three military officers.
Source: Naharnet
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