news.az, Azerbaijan
Jan 16 2010

Opposition MPs plan to appeal to president on Karabakh
Sat 16 January 2010 | 08:01 GMT Text size:

Panah Huseyn News.Az interviews Panah Huseyn, head of Azerbaijan’s
opposition Musavat Party group of deputies in parliament.

As a member of the parliamentary opposition, you are part of the
minority in the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani parliament). What
legislative initiatives has your group proposed?

The Musavat deputies’ group has presented 11 bills and draft decisions
to the Milli Majlis as legislative initiatives. Unfortunately, the
bills that we submitted have hardly been considered in the Milli
Majlis. However, in line with the internal procedures of the Milli
Majlis, bills must be considered within six months of submission. The
documents we have submitted are based on the public interest: they
include bills `On the work of the opposition", "On recognition of the
PKK as a terrorist organization’, `On recognition of the Khojaly
genocide’ and `On citizenship’, as well as a bill on the introduction
of amendments and alterations to the Electoral Code.

Practice shows that the Milli Majlis views our group’s legislative
initiatives as a formality. The draft documents that we submit are not
discussed by the parliamentary committees. During this period the
parliamentary committees have considered only three draft documents
submitted by the opposition deputies’ group to the Milli Majlis. These
are the draft laws `On freedom of religion’ and `On 1 May’ and
amendments to the Electoral Code. However, the parliamentary
committees took verbal decisions on alleged recommendations of these
bills for consideration in the Milli Majlis but then this procedure
was said to have been suspended and no reason was given.

What legislative plans does the Musavat deputies’ group have for the
upcoming session of parliament?

This is the last session of the third convocation of the Milli Majlis.
Another session will be held in the autumn but only two or three
sittings will be held because of the parliamentary elections in
November. Therefore during the spring session we will insist on the
discussion of our bill on amendments and alterations to the Electoral
Code. During the spring session of the Milli Majlis we will submit an
bill on a pardon for consideration. The opposition deputies’ group
will also submit for consideration to the Majlis a draft appeal by
parliament to the head of state on the situation on the Karabakh
conflict settlement. Earlier we submitted the text of such an appeal
to the parliamentary leadership but this issue was not put up for
discussion. We can of course draw up and submit for consideration in
parliament bills that are relevant to the changing situation.

But as we have just six months of legislative work left, it is
unlikely that our bills will be considered. After all, bills submitted
by our group to the Milli Majlis two or three years ago have not been
put up for discussion yet.

What should be done to change this situation?

There is now a serious need for reform to improve the work of the
Milli Majlis and for bills to improve the effective functioning of the
legislature. Unfortunately, most breaches of legislation occur during
the execution of laws regulating the work of the Milli Majlis. This is
also a sign of legal nihilism in the country.

Does the Musavat Party make good use of opportunities during visits to
foreign countries and at international events?

The Musavat Party has the largest opposition group of deputies in
parliament. Yet, despite numerous appeals to the Milli Majlis
leadership, this group is not widely represented in the parliamentary
committees or the revision commission and the commission on ethics.
Moreover, our deputies’ group is not represented in Azerbaijani
parliamentary delegations to international organizations. This shows
the lack of parliamentary culture. Other countries create the right
conditions for opposition deputies to participate in international
events. We even lack the appropriate legislation regulating these
issues. In our country these issues are regulated by the Milli Majlis
chairman. Azerbaijani legislation lacks laws regulating the
participation of deputies in national parliamentary delegations to
international organizations.

In 2005 the Milli Majlis leadership included a member of the Musavat
deputies’ group, Iltizam Akberli, in the Azerbaijani delegation to the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) when it was
formed a second time but without coordinating this issue with us.
Akberli was included in the delegation as a secondary member and in
this capacity he has no opportunity to take part in PACE sessions.
Meanwhile, as Akberli’s candidacy was not coordinated with our group,
we rejected his participation in PACE events as a sign of protest.
Azerbaijan’s parliamentary delegations to international organizations
are, therefore, composed only of deputies from the ruling and
pro-government parties. Opposition representatives are not included in
the national delegations at all.

What issues is your deputies’ group going to tackle in light of the
parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan due in November?

Our initiative on amendments to the Electoral Code seeks to achieve
our goals. Our proposed amendments envisage changing the principle
behind the formation of election commissions. We think these
amendments may become a stimulus for the democratization of the
election process. In addition, each of us is a party member and in
this capacity we will all take an active part in the election
campaign.

Namik Guseynov
News.Az