By Moutaz Ali.
Tripoli, 25 May 2014:
The Constitutional Assembly (CA) is now ready to get down to it main job of drafting . . .[restrict]the new constitution, its President, Ali Tarhouni, has said.
At a press conference in Beida on Friday, he said that it had now completed the important initial steps so that it could operate smoothly.
It had finished drafting its internal laws, set up committees and approved a process for communicating with the public. Moreover, the Assembly had created what it is calling a “constitutional map” which defines sources, references, chapters and titles of the constitution.
The assembly also created a “behaviour record.” This record includes some points to ensure the political independence of the Assembly members. They are not to make any kind of contact outside the Assembly with any person or group who would attempt to influence the its procedures. Furthermore, assembly members are obligated not to let their personal political stances sway their participation in the drafting of the constitution.
Tarhouni affirmed the independence of the assembly, stating that it “is powerful and only devoted to drafting a constitution in line with the Libyan hopes and wishes for their country’s future”.
He also stressed that the Second Deputy President of the General National Congress, Saleh Al-Makhzoum, was not the spokesman of the Assembly, and never would be.
Last week, retired general Khalifa Hafter, leader of Operation Dignity, called on the Constitutional Assembly to replace the GNC and the assembly refused. Makhzoum then, during his press conference two days ago, praised the Assembly and added that the assembly is only mandated for its specialised work.
When asked by the Libya Herald why the president of the assembly would specifically mention Makhzoum in his statement, GNC member from Benghazi Ahmed Langhi answered, “because the Assembly president doesn’t want anyone to speak on its behalf”. [/restrict]
