Maronite Delegation to Aoun: Suleiman Should Have a Say in Appointments

A Maronite delegation has told Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun that President Michel Suleiman should have a say in the appointments of civil servants in posts reserved for Christians, An Nahar daily reported Tuesday.

The newspaper said that former Ministers Michel Edde and Wadih Khazen, and Joseph Tarabay were delegated by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to resolve the issue of appointments.

The delegation stressed during its meeting with Aoun in Rabieh on Monday the importance of allowing Suleiman to interfere in the naming of the candidates for the posts reserved for Christians without disregarding the FPM chief’s representation in parliament and the cabinet.

Following the meeting, Khazen said that Aoun was cooperative, adding that the delegation will continue its contacts with him.

Aoun and Suleiman had been lately at loggerheads over the appointments. But the two officials met in Baabda on Saturday.

It was not clear if they reached any agreement on the names of candidates.

Suleiman told Ad-Diyar newspaper last week that he should have an essential opinion in the appointments in the judiciary.

Premier Najib Miqati told the same daily on Tuesday that the appointment of the head of the Higher Judicial Council should not be seen as a precondition to appointing other civil servants.

“All appointments would be made through consensus whereby no team would be able to monopolize its sect’s share,” he said.

“There are other forces in the country that should have a say in these appointments,” Miqati stressed.