I am in a dilemma to present draft constitution to UN

LEFKOSA (AA) – President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, "I am in a dilemma about presenting the draft constitution of partner state, that would destroy the TRNC, to the United Nations. The chief prosecutor ruled that the draft constitution could not be sent to the parliament legally for approval. I will made a decision after holding talks with leaders of political parties."

The draft constitution of the Turkish Cypriot state, one of the two founder states to form the united Cyprus state in line with the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, was prepared by a special parliamentary committee under the negotiation process aiming to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue.

TRNC President Denktas did not present the draft to United Nations officials yesterday because of his concerns about it.

In an interview with the Turkish News Agency (TAK), President Denktas said on Saturday, "there have been some legal difficulties. I am in a dilemma about presenting the draft to the United Nations."

When recalled that the Annan Plan and the schedule, which was set as a result of the agreement reached in New York, the United States, entailed them to present the draft to the United Nations, President Denktas said, "Annan asked us to prepare a constitution for a future institution, which is called founder state, however, it is not state actually. This draft does not mean a constitution. Because the draft will be presented in addition to the referendum, and it will become constitution of the future if it is accepted in the referendum."

"Talks over Annan’s plan have still been continuing. We have been trying to make some changes on the basis of sine qua non. It will be revealed at the end of the talks whether or not we achieve success in this process. They told as that we were free to do anything envisaged in the plan as the talks continued. It is correct to some extent. I have been authorized to protect our state and sovereignty, Turkey’s guarantee, to prevent a serious problem of migration, and to solve the issue of properties fairly. I have not been authorized to destroy equal sovereignty of Turkish Cypriots, to sign an agreement which would render the guarantee agreement ineffective, and to accept an agreement which would make half of our people immigrants," he said.

Recalling that the chief prosecutor had ruled that the draft envisaging destruction of state and termination of parliament could not be submitted to parliament’s approval legally, President Denktas said, "if I present this draft to the United nations before listening to views of my people, it will mean that we accepted destruction of our state and termination of our parliament. I do not have such an authority. Therefore, the parliament should tell me whether or not it would accept our turning into an institution under the title of founder state having no sovereignty. Jurists said that I do not have the authority to present the draft to the United Nations. They told me that I would commit a constitutional crime if I present it. I am in a dilemma. I will made a decision after holding talks with leaders of political parties."