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OSCE senior officials meet party leaders in Azerbaijan

05 June 2007 09:40 (UTC +04:00)

The close meeting brought together leader of Musavat Party Isa Gambar, leader of National Union Movement Party Lala Shovket, chief of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Karimli, Ali Aliyev, Eldar Namazov and Araz Alizadeh.
Lala Shovket told journalists after the meeting that they debated on the pressures to press and restrictions to the activity of political parties.
â€œSeven journalists have been arrested recently. We are not provided opportunities to appear on TV to publicize our position, to carry out conferences in the regions, rallies in the city center,â€ she said.
Shovket stressed the necessity of removing election process from the monopoly of CEC in order to ensure democratic elections in Azerbaijan. The opposition representatives hope that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will consult with them regarding the solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
â€œBecause, Karabakh is a national problem. Therefore we are sure that the President will negotiate with us, then debate a certain solution option. We are concerned about holding of so called referendum. There cannot be a referendum on territorial integrity can which is contrary to Azerbaijani Constitution. Carrying out referendum in Nagorno Karabakh would be precedent for Transnistria, Abkhazia and Ossetia separatists. /APA/