TURKISH Cypriot administration sources yesterday insisted a proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to form a national congress was not geared to sideline the powers of the Turkish Cypriot ‘parliament’, adding the plan was in any case still far from being finalised.
An administration source told the Cyprus Mail last night: “A national congress is proposed to be made up of members who will include non-governmental organisations and other official organisations from the left and right in order to help move things forward.”
The source added: “Its purpose is not to sideline parliament, it will by a body to work around and together with parliament.”
The comments came in response to a front-page article in yesterday’s Politis, claiming that Denktash was aiming to sideline ‘parliament’, in case the opposition emerged victorious from the December 14 general election and requested a change of negotiator.
The Politis report added the national congress proposed by Denktash would have the first and final say in the legislature, and that ‘parliament’ would essentially be made ineffective.
The report cited an interview with Denktash on the leading Turkish television news channel NTV on Thursday.
According to the original transcript of the interview, Denktash said: “Let us form a national congress after elections where all complaints (regarding government) should be put forward, and then in an orderly and organised manner the government should finally apply its decisions accordingly.”
In the interview, Denktash stressed that the proposed national congress would be an advisory body and could not be compared to the Greek Cypriots’ National Council.
“We have a parliamentary system, the Greek Cypriots have a presidential system. I cannot form a national council whose powers exceed that of parliament,” added Denktash, stressing that the legislature would have authority over the national congress.
But leading opposition leader Mehmet Ali Talat of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) said Denktash’s proposal would be a revolutionary act.
Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, Talat said: “Denktash has stated that a national congress should be formed. If this is attempted, it will be a form of revolution, I do not think he is brave enough to take such action.”
