SARDAR JALALOGHLU: "AZADLYG BLOC MADE AN UNEXPECTED DECISION ABOUT BOYCOTT WITHOUT CONSULTING WITH ANYONE"

Today.Az
27 June 2008

Day.Az interview with chairman of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan
Sardar Jalaloghlu.

– How does the party’s preparation for presidential election proceed?

– Amendments, introduced to the Electoral Code, have created an
atmosphere of uncertainly, initiating discussions inside the party
about the expediency to take part in the presidential racings. Some
party activists insist on rejecting to participate in the elections
and in this connection they demand the session of the party.

Until today the elections in Azerbaijan have been formal, including
meetings with voters, election agitation, speeches on television,
participation of voters and others. At the same time, the results of
elections remained changeless, thus real results of voting differed
from formal ones.

Today, after amendments are introduced, the formal side of presidential
elections will be absent. We have decided to take part in the elections
before the amendments were adopted. The situation has recently
cghanged. As is known, PACE has adopted a resolution "On functioning
of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan", which fixes serious concerns
with worsened situation in the sphere of human rights in Azerbaijan.

– Under which conditions would you want to participate in the
presidential racings?

– Under conditions when participation in the elections would have
a sense.

It is clear that it will be impossible to win the presidential
elections in Azerbaijan in such conditions. Nevertheless, it is
necessary at least to change the policy of the authorities. The
party decided to take part in the elections considering it,
but the amendments to the law have deprived us of this chance as
well. Therefore, there is an atmosphere of uncertainty within the
party as to the participation in the elections.

– Does it mean you also intend to boycott the elections?

– In this case the issue is not the boycott. I treat the issue of
boycott seriously, unlike others. Boycott is even more serious than the
participation in the elections. At least we can reject participating
in the elections.

– Does it mean that the democratic party decided to support Azadlyg?

– To support Azadlyg is not a crime. The bloc made an unexpected
decision about boycott without consulting with anyone or putting it
for public discussion. Before initiating boycott, they should have
conducted public discussions. The decision to boycott elections
should have been passed through democratic procedures. As far as I
know, the leaders of Azadlyg bloc decided to boycott the elections
without a session, by sitting in their homes and calling each other
by cell phones. We hope the country’s president will not sign these
amendments to the law. We are still waiting. There are two motives
of participation in the presidential elections. First is to come to
power and second to fight for democratic processes in the country
and sometimes the second is more important that the first.

– Did Azadlyg bloc suggest you to boycott elections? Because, when
I was waiting for you to receive me I saw one of the bloc leaders-
Ali Aliyev, leaving your office…

– Talks between political organizations start when their positions
coincide.

Yesterday I also met with a leader of another bloc. Talks are held
on different issues with various political associations. However,
we pass the final decision. Today a number of our colleagues blame
us for intention to take part in the elections. But the point that
the stronger the international image of Azerbaijan is affected the
stronger is the threat posed to the national interests of the country.

Being a politician, I can reject participating in the elections
for meeting my own interests and show the world community the
anti-democracy of the ruling powers. In the result, world states start
to press Azerbaijan for concessions and put forward more demands in
Nagorno Karabakh issue. And which position should I take, being a
person, who pursues the national interests of the country? Of course,
I would try not to affect the international image of Azerbaijan.