Army Commander General Joseph Aoun conveyed his best wishes to caretaker Minister of National Defense Maurice Sleem on the occasion of Christmas when he visited him at the Ministry of Defense in Yarzeh on Tuesday, in an apparent move to ease tensions between them.
The visit comes in the wake of the parliament’s vote in favor of extending the army commander’s mandate by one year. The move was utterly opposed by Free Patriotic Movement’s leader Gebran Bassil, with whom Sleem is closely affiliated.
On the behest of Bassil, Sleem had accused Aoun of overstepping his role and jurisdiction. However, the Audit Court issued a report clearing Aoun of all accusations leveled against him by Sleem, confirming "the absence of violations of applicable laws."
Today’s encounter is regarded as a goodwill gesture by the army commander aimed at easing tensions with Sleem, and it could pave the way for the potential appointment of a new chief of staff and filling the vacant seats on the 6-member Military Council.
Earlier this month, Sleem had an altercation with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati when the latter convened the council of ministers to extend General Joseph Aoun’s term.
A "reconciliation" and "rapprochement" meeting between Mikati and Slim was later arranged by pro-Hezbollah Minister of Culture Mohammad Mortada, during which the two reportedly agreed that Sleem would propose candidates for the vacant positions on the Military Council, including that of chief of staff.
However, according to sources close to Mikati, Bassil intervened to scuttle the rapprochement efforts by addressing a harsh message which they believe was rather directed against Hezbollah, Bassil’s purported ally, than against Sleem.
The visit comes in the wake of the parliament’s vote in favor of extending the army commander’s mandate by one year. The move was utterly opposed by Free Patriotic Movement’s leader Gebran Bassil, with whom Sleem is closely affiliated.
On the behest of Bassil, Sleem had accused Aoun of overstepping his role and jurisdiction. However, the Audit Court issued a report clearing Aoun of all accusations leveled against him by Sleem, confirming "the absence of violations of applicable laws."
Today’s encounter is regarded as a goodwill gesture by the army commander aimed at easing tensions with Sleem, and it could pave the way for the potential appointment of a new chief of staff and filling the vacant seats on the 6-member Military Council.
Earlier this month, Sleem had an altercation with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati when the latter convened the council of ministers to extend General Joseph Aoun’s term.
A "reconciliation" and "rapprochement" meeting between Mikati and Slim was later arranged by pro-Hezbollah Minister of Culture Mohammad Mortada, during which the two reportedly agreed that Sleem would propose candidates for the vacant positions on the Military Council, including that of chief of staff.
However, according to sources close to Mikati, Bassil intervened to scuttle the rapprochement efforts by addressing a harsh message which they believe was rather directed against Hezbollah, Bassil’s purported ally, than against Sleem.
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