Russian party leader on fact-finding visit to Azerbaijan

Assa-Irada
18 May 05

Baku, 18 May: The leader of Russia’s Our Choice Party, Irina Khakamada,
is visiting Baku. The aim of the visit of Khakamada, who started
her tour of the post-Soviet space from Azerbaijan, is to familiarize
herself with the current relations between the two countries.

“This is my first visit to the independent country. I am trying to
assess similarities and differences between Russia and Azerbaijan,”
she said at a meeting with Azerbaijani parliament members.

Deputy Speaker Govhar Baxsaliyeva briefed the guest on the processes
going on in the country and the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

Khakamada said in turn that unlike the Azerbaijani parliament,
democratic forces are not represented in the Russian State Duma.
People from the Caucasus are now facing major problems in Russia due
to their appearance [they tend to be darker than Russians], she said.

Khakamada also voiced her regret that they can get no information
from members of the diaspora in Russia about the problems that
Azerbaijanis have.