OPPOSITION PARTY OF AZERBAIJANIS IN GEORGIA READY TO ADMIT ARMENIANS

Trend News Agency
Jan 22 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 21 January / corr. Trend J. Babayeva/ The opposition
Party of Azerbaijanis living in Georgia whose co-founder is the former
presidential candidate Fazil Aliyev, is ready to admit Armenians
living in this country to the party, Fazil Aliyev said to Trend by
telephone from Tbilisi on 21 January.

"Everyone regardless of their nationality will be represented in the
party," Aliyev said.

Aliyev was nominated for the presidency by the National Assembly of
Azerbaijanis in Georgia and the International Council of Azerbaijanis
in Georgia. Fazil Aliyev refused to take part in the elections in
December. He attributed it to ‘pressure from Georgian government
agencies.’ Later on Aliyev established a new opposition party.

The chief purpose in the party’s establishment is to take part in
the parliamentary elections in Georgia to be held in May. According
to the current Georgian constitution, parliamentary elections were
to be held in autumn of 2008; however, as a result of a referendum
which was held together with the early presidential elections, the
parliamentary elections will take place in the spring of 2008.

The next party meeting will be held next week. As a result of this
meeting, the chairman of the party will be elected and an address will
be made to the Georgian Ministry of Justice for official registration.

According to Georgian laws, the party is required to have no less
than 1000 members in order to be registered. Aliyev is sure that he
has enough supporters who will join his party.

"Not only Azerbaijanis, but also Georgian wish to join the party,"
Aliyev said.