Qudrat Hasanquliyev: "Lala Shovkat or Ali Kerimli will never make way for each other"

- You have recently decided to take part in the presidential elections. What does you election platform include and which problems do you intend to pay special attention?

- There are several basic directions in my platform, in particular, resolution of Nagorno Karabakh problem, improvement of socioeconomic state of the population, peculiarities of internal and external policy. In particular, our candidate will pay special attention to conducting reforms in the country.

- Have you already formed an election campaign team?

- The election campaign team will be fully formed on June 17 when a session of the party will be held. Currently the party has an informal election campaign team, which takes necessary steps connected with participation of the party in the coming elections.

- Have you already calculated how much you will need for participation in the presidential campaign?

- The said issue has not been fully coordinated. But, I think, we will be able to hold a small agitation campaign by efforts of the party members. The said issue will be settled before the start of presidential elections.

- You have gained 0.5% votes at 2003 presidential elections. How much do you plan to gain this time?

- For us the number of votes is not important. As is known the activity of opposition has been restricted and the candidate from the authorities has more changes.

Our party joins the elections to bring alternative ideas to people, continue development of the democratic process, prevent formation of a one-party system in the country. We have already boycotted presidential elections and results showed that the said tactics is ineffective.

We know that there is a protesting electorate and unsettled problems in our country by its participation in the elections the party will try to involve people. The parties, boycotting presidential elections, aim to attract attention of the world society.

I think this "smeary campaign" will continue throughout the whole election period, so that the people do not support opposition, referring to the boycott of "true opposition".

- In case the votes are equally distributed among opposition members, will opposition nominate a single candidate?

- If it was in our hands, we would have defined a single candidate from opposition. Our party joint the Center of Democratic Elections, where most political powers of the country are represented but currently not all of them have defined form of participation in the presidential elections.

In such situation it is difficult to speak of a single candidate from opposition. We are waiting for these parties to decide. If they can agree on a single candidate, our political structure is ready to review its decision on participation in the upcoming presidential elections.

- What do you think is the main point of boycott of presidential elections by Azadlyg bloc?

- The rejection to participate in the elections causes a number of issues today, as parties, represented in it, have always participayed in the elections. Even in 1998 when opposition fully boycotted the elections, Etibar Mamedov and his supporters took part in the elections and then recognized their results invalid. What has changed? Was the boycott effective?

In 2000 opposition again joined the parliamentary elections and leader of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Kerimli became Milli Medjlis deputy. Initially, he refused to join the activity of the parliament, then he got his mandate, but quited the parliament after the well-known clash with deputy Ahad Abiyev. I list these facts to assess the actions of these political scientists.

These people should apologize to people and state that they have previously take erroneous decisions and now by declaring boycott they will adhere to only one position. If they have been mistaken so many times, will they be able to take a correct decision this time? They have no chances to accuse opposition, which intends to take part in the elections, of betrayal. On the contrary, it is inadmissible to accuse opposition of loyalty to powers sitting at home.

Moreover, these leaders declare boycott because Lala Shovket or Ali Kerimli will never make way for each other. Along with Isa Qambar and Rasul Quliyev, they did not make way for each other in 1998 and this was the main purpose of the boycott of opposition. This should be prevented at the upcoming presidential elections.

The second reason of boycott is that during the parliamentary elections they fight for 125 seats, while presidency will be granted to one person. As they can not help their ambitions, they decided to boycott elections.

They declaration that the inappropriate amendments had been introduced to the Electoral Code, which resulted in establishment of anti-Democratic situation in the country, is groundless. Elections can be falsified even with a good Electoral Code.

If all requirements of the working Electoral Code are observed during the presidential elections, it will be easy to conduct democratic elections.

- Do you think people trust these leaders?

- It is psychologically difficult for these people to join the presidential elections as before it they have made so many false and unreal promises that now they find it uneasy to appear before voters. It can be said that neither Lala Shovket nor Ali Kerimli will be able to get necessary signatures for passing the registration.

- How do you assess the chances of former speaker of Milli Medjlis Rasul Quliyev? Will he be able to arrive in Azerbaijan to take part in the presidential elections?

- I do not think that Rasul Quliyev will be able to take part in the elections for if a person fears imprisonment, how will he be able to nominate his candidacy? In 2005 he attempted to return to Azerbaijan, yet, as he was afraid of being detained he returned back. If he was really right, he would have returned to Azerbaijan and prove it.

- How do you assess the overall political situation in the country?

- I would want the situation in the country to be more democratic. Parties should be allowed to hold meetings in more suitable places, not sending them to Bibi Eybat settlement and other amendments should be introduced to the law "On Freedom of Assembly". We should not be said "do not protest, find other ways to prove your right".

I would like the activity of the parties to be paid more attention. For example, the state television should highlight all events, ongoing in the countries, including activity of political parties in line with the law "On television and radio broadcasting".

Our party held its regular session on June 7, and the zonal session of the Yeni Azerbaijan party was held on the same day. The zonal session was widely highlighted on the state television, but our session was not mentioned...

/Day.Az/