Salam Vows to Continue Shouldering His 'National Responsibility'
Prime Minister Tammam Salam pledged Wednesday to “continue shouldering the national responsibility during this tough period that the country is going through.”
“We will remain the guardians of this structure... We will not back down, weaken or bow in the face of the challenges,” Salam stressed.
“The current situation does not call for optimism but Lebanon went through a lot of junctures and overcame major tests,” the PM added.
“Despite all the chaos and destruction that is surrounding us, we in Lebanon are being envied over our situation due to our domestic cohesion,” Salam went on to say.
Sources close to Salam have said that the PM will not postpone a controversial cabinet session scheduled for Thursday despite a decision by the Free Patriotic Movement to boycott the meeting.
In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper, the sources also rejected the FPM's claim that holding a cabinet session in the absence of the FPM and Kataeb Party ministers would be a violation of the 1943 National Pact, stressing that “all sects will be present and represented.”
The FPM's decision is linked to the thorny issue of military appointments.
Last week, Defense Minister Samir Moqbel postponed the retirement of Higher Defense Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir after no consensus was reached over three candidates that he had proposed, angering the FPM which says that it opposes term extensions for all senior officers.
The movement fears that the extension of Kheir's term could pave the way for a new extension of the tenure of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji next month.
Qahwaji's retirement had been postponed in September 2013 and his term was instead extended for two years.
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