Former Azeri opposition leader not to leave politics, party head says

ANS TV, Baku
14 Mar 05

The newly-elected chairman of the opposition Azarbaycan Milli Istiqlal Party,
or the National Independence Party, has said the party’s former leader Etibar
Mammadov might reappear on the political stage to head completely new forces.

“It cannot be ruled out that Etibar bay [form of address] will return to the
political arena with completely new forces and new qualities,” Ali Aliyev said
in an interview with private ANS TV on 14 March.

Aliyev went on to say that AMIP might facilitate the creation of a major
movement in Azerbaijan, which could, like in Ukraine and Georgia, decide the
country’s political fate.

“Processes might intensify and become global. One has to know that Etibar bay
has not yet had a final say in politics and that he is still in politics,”
the AMIP leader said.

Aliyev described as false the reports that AMIP members are mainly those who
come from Armenia.

“I was born in Baku and have nothing to do with the place you mentioned. But
I was elected party chairman in a run-off. I think this is the best answer to
your question,” Aliyev said.

“AMIP has been a nationalist party from the outset. One of the tasks of the
newly-elected leadership today is to conduct nationalist propaganda in the
country,” the party chairman said.