Opposition news

AZERI-RUSSIAN RELATIONS DISCUSSED

Azeri-Russian relations were discussed Monday by the ADP secretary general Sardar Jalaloglu and Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Nikolai Riabov, as Mr. Jalaloglu approved of Russian President Putin's stance toward a recent Iranian-Azeri standoff in the Caspian, the party said in a statement Monday. S. Jalaloglu underscored the importance of elevating Azeri-Russian relations to a higher level and establishing ties between political organizations of the two countries.

Ambassador Riabov spoke in favor of the idea. According to the ADP secretary on ideology Aydin Guliyev, the recent informal CIS summit represents a step toward resolution of the Caspian status problem. The summit is believed to have considerably neared the positions of Azerbaijan, Russia and Kazakstan on the Caspian status issue.

US NDI HELPING PFPA REFORMERS

The US National Democratic Institute is going to help the Popular Front Party in conducting a training session over organization and agitation. The decision follows a meeting of the chairman of the party's Supreme Mejlis Gulamhussein Aliyev with a group of NDI representatives. Another meeting is scheduled for later this week. Besides, the parties discussed other cooperation related matters, according to a source from the party.

"ADALAT" COMPLAINS ON POLICE ARBITRARINESS

Police in Oguz and Khachmas provinces have demanded the local representative office of "Adalat" party to limit its activities and threatened "with adequate measures" otherwise. In Gusar, police tried to prevent the party members from gathering in the "Adalat" head-quarters for a meeting with the party chairman and even detained the head of the party's local division Haji Nizami Soltanov for several hours.

In his letter to the Minister for Interior Ramil Usubov and prosecutor general Zakir Garalov, chairman of the party Ilyas Ismayilov asked them to investigate the incidents and take necessary measures.

PICKET OUTSIDE SUPREME COURT

Some 100 members of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) picketed the Supreme Court building last Wednesday demanding to release employees of "Ulus" newspaper Yagub Abbasov and Surkhay Hajiyev.

A great number of policemen had gathered to the picket venue, which provoked minor confrontation, with no serious clashes reported. The picketers were not allowed to take out their posters demanding an end to political crackdown. Neither was the resolution accepted by the Court. ADP said the actions would continue, with a massive street rally expected in late August.

NATIONALISTS, NATIONAL DEMOCRATS AGREE TO JOIN

Leaders of the Turkic Nationalist Party (TNP) and the Azerbaijan National Democratic Party (ANDP) met recently to focus on potential merger. As a result of the negotiations, the ANDP leader Rafiq Turabkhanoglu agreed to a second role yielding chairmanship to the TNP chairman Vugar Bayturan.

The name of the new party has yet to be agreed upon. Although ANDP has undergone state registration and TNP hasn't, V. Beyturan is opposed to any concessions as to the name of the party, aide to the TNP chairman Elnur Fateh told AssA-Irada Tuesday.