Opposition news

ADP NOT TO COOPERATE WITH PFPA REFORMERS OR CSP

The political council of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) has made a statement, saying that from now onwards cooperation with the PFPA reform wing and the Civil Solidarity Party (CSP) is out of the question.

ADP thinks the decision by PFPA reformers and CSP to take part in the parliament is the continuation of their intention to join the regime in leaving the main opposition parties outside the new parliament.

ADP secretary for organizational issues Hasrat Rustamov says the political council decision has been supported by the chairman of the party Rasul Guliyev. He added that there are favorable conditions for the integration of key opposition parties.

Commenting on the decision, leader of PFPA reformers A. Karimov said, "We didn't maintain particularly close relations after all. As a matter of fact, it is ADP that needs us.”

GAMBAR ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN OF DEMCONGRESS-1

Last week saw structural changes within the Democratic Congress-1. The institute of permanent chairmanship has been established, together with the Board and Mejlis. Leader of Musavat Isa Gambar has been elected as chairman.

The board includes 11 people, while the Mejlis, which will comprise 25 members of PFPA conservatives, 24 of Musavat and 8 from each of the remaining parties, will be led by the PFPA leader M. Fattayev.

According to the chairman of the Azadlig party A. Oruj, this is the first political entity of its kind in Azerbaijan.

He added that DemCongress is planning on a conference. Asked whether representatives of the PFPA reform wing and Civil Solidarity parties would be invited, A. Oruj answered that only those in opposition to the present regime would be encouraged to take part.

DEMCONGRESS-2 ON THE WAY TO TAKING POWER

Parties members of Democratic Congress-2 have described the decision by PFPA reformers and CSP to take part in the new parliament's sessions as a step toward taking power in the country.

PFPA reform-wing leader A. Karimov told journalists that after Azerbaijan is admitted to the Council of Europe, there will be better opportunities of influencing the authorities.

Speaking highly of the President's latest amnesty decree, the Congress has appealed for pardoning of all political prisoners.

Mr. Karimov added that the Congress would soon be joined by more political parties.

BRITISH AMBASSADOR MEETS PARTY LEADERS

British ambassador to Azerbaijan Andrew Tucker met with the secretary general of the Civil Unity Party Sabir Hajiyev last Wednesday, as the two focused on the socio-political situation in Azerbaijan, relations between Great Britain and Azerbaijan and results of parliamentary election.

Mr. Hajiyev briefed the diplomat on the party's work, saying it had not been registered by the ministry of justice.

It is remembered that chairman of the Party is ex-president of Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutallibov, who has lived in Moscow since 1992.

PNIA STILL ALLY OF PFPA REFORMERS

Unlike Musavat and ADP, which have vehemently attacked the decision by PFPA and Civil Solidarity Party (CSP) to take part in the parliament's sessions, the PNIA, another key opposition party, has not made a big deal of the issue.

The PNIA deputy chairman Maharram Zulfugarli told Azernews Thursday that the party never condemns decisions made by independent parties.

According to him, PNIA maintains broad cooperation with these parties and it is not ruled out that such collaboration can grow into an alliance.

ALP HEAD’s ASSASSINATION RUMOR PROVED FALSE

No one has conspired against the ADP chairperson Lala Shovkat or any of her family members. It has been found out that someone named Zeynal Zeynalov, a citizen of Russia, had been speculating, purely for reasons of revenge and personal avail, that the authorities were allegedly masterminding a terrorist act against Mrs. Shovkat and had even invited an assassin to Azerbaijan. Further, chairman of the ALP executive committee A. Temirkhan, who was personally contacted by Z. Zeynalov, made a political sensation of the matter instead of notifying the law enforcement. He then handed the unverified information to "Yeni Musavat" newspaper, which published it on December 29, the Ministry for National Security said Friday.

Following the publication in "Yeni Musavat", the investigation proved that the report was absolutely ungrounded. As far as Mr. Zeynalov is concerned, he was arrested on January 6 and is being charged with deliberate spreading of misinformation.

"COE WILL DICTATE ITS WILL TO AZERBAIJAN", PANAHLI SAYS

"It is not Azerbaijan that needs the Council of Europe, but the COE need us. Having entered the Council, Azerbaijan has opened its legislation to pressure of the COE, which will dictate its rules", chairman of the National Statehood Party N. Panahli told a news conference at the Press-Club Tuesday.

According to him, the COE will not play a positive role in the solution of the Garabagh problem, as France, a key member of the organization, has recognized the fabricated "Armenian genocide".

Mr. Panahli thinks it is impossible to liberate Azeri lands occupied by Armenia through peaceful ways. He ridiculed the state propaganda for the liberation of lands, which is aimed at convincing the nation of Azerbaijan's weakness, he said.