Domestic

Domestic

Ramiz Mehdiyev: If survey is carried out we will see that 98 percent of population support Ilham Aliyevâ€™s presidency

23 May 2007 16:09 (UTC +04:00)

â€œRecent events occurred in Azerbaijan press is not related to forthcoming presidential elections. Accepting reality we can see groundlessness of thought on the relation between presidential elections and newspapersâ€™ issuesâ€, Ramiz Mehdiyev, President Officeâ€™s head was quoted by APA as saying. Ramiz Mehdiyev sure of Azerbaijan presidentâ€™s authority said â€œI am sure if survey is carried out we will see that 98 percent of population intends to vote for Ilham Aliyevâ€™s presidencyâ€.
â€œSo explaining press events with forthcoming elections is groundless. We wait for normal, cultural, democratic opposition in the country. We also want our press have the level of press of civil countries not being source of offensive ad insulting articles. The newspapers are publishing many rumors and disinformation. This does not coincide with Azerbaijani mentalityâ€.
Touching upon the pardon on journalists Ramiz Mehdiyev said President issues several pardon decrees a year. He said he hoped for the soon release of journalists.
Ramiz Mehidyev commented on the issue of number of journalists imprisoned in Azerbaijan. â€œEveryone should obey the law. Journalists are not allowed to do anything they wish even selling the interests of Azerbaijan. Oppositions in neighboring countries do not libel their government in spite of much worse situation in Armenia. We all should try to have a democratic patriotic, cultural opposition. Everyone should settle its personal problems in accordance with law.â€ /APA/