Army denies officers refused promotions

 

The Lebanese Army Command on Thursday denied a local media report that around 1,500 Lebanese officers had refused to accept promotions until a president signs off on them.

 

The army made the statement in a press communique in response to a report published in As-Safir newspaper on Thursday. The local daily had reported that the issue of officer promotions had been discussed at a broad military meeting led by army commander General Michel Suleiman at the Defense Ministry in Yarze.

 

As-Safir said the conferees agreed that no promotion of officers should take place without the signature of the president, in line with constitutional norms.

 

The country has been without a head of state since Emile Lahoud”s term expired on November 23 and feuding politicians failed to elect a successor.

 

The ruling coalition and the opposition have agreed to elect Suleiman to the top post, but remain at odds over the election process and the shape of a new administration.

 

Lebanon”s government on Monday proposed a draft law to amend the Constitution “for a single time” in order to allow a senior public servant to  become president.
 

As-Safir said the Yarze meeting took place late Wednesday and that participants were split between those who supported the Cabinet”s measure and those who opposed it.

 

But the daily said the meeting ended with a “unanimous agreement” on the principle that officer promotions would only be accepted after the new president approved them.

 

Promotion of officers is one of the items on the agenda of a Cabinet session Friday.

 

“This article has opened the door for political analysts to build on the story from different perspectives, and some media outlets have contacted the Army Command for clarifications,” the communique said.

 

“The command is also preparing a draft law to be submitted to Parliament to retroactively conduct the promotions,” the communique added.

 

The communique said that the rejection by officers of promotions would not conform with the regulations and laws adopted by the army. It also called on the Lebanese media to seek information from army authorities when reporting on the topic.