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Rasul Guliyev: Can invisible opposition have a single candidate?

10 August 2007 15:48 (UTC +04:00)

-Are you satisfied with the activity of Open Society Party after the partyâ€™s congress?
-Open Society Partyâ€™s activity is not in satisfactory level like the existing opposition parties, and of course, I am not satisfied. The positive side is that the leaders of our party unlike some others, confess this sincerely. This makes it possibly to conclude that they will be working on a serious project in future.
-What is your assessment of the OSPâ€™s keeping a distance with other opposition parties and unwillingness to join any alliance?
-In current situation, it makes no difference , you can come close or keep distance with opposition parties and struggle for democracy, the result is the same-zero. Azerbaijanâ€™s opposition today is doing nothing but relying on the statements released by an international organization or the US and hope they will build democracy in the country. This can be done from far distance. I think the view of coming closer without any plan or program is nothing but misleading the society.
-Several parties have started negotiations on building a new alliance. Your party attended the first meeting, but then refused. Why is it related with? Do you see the prospect of the new alliance of the opposition?
-Uniting in an alliance sounds good. But the important thing is to have a certain plan. And it is also important who has worked out the plan?
-Your adviser Aydin Guliyev does not consider himself the member of the Open Society Party. It is reported that he is intending to be elected the party chairman and as if you will support him during the preparation for the Congress. Have you relay promised him such support?
-I have not promised anything to anyone. I only recommended more than 50 party members to demonstrate activeness in election process in order to make them realize what is democratic struggle inside a party. But I failed, again everyone wanted to learn my position. And I passed decisions after considering the party membersâ€™ opinions for a long time. As to Aydin Guliyevâ€™s not being the party member, it is not a problem for me. Because he has the status of adviser of OSP leader. A man determining to be a chairman should not base on my support only, he himself should build a basis. But I was not informed of his intention to be a chairman of the party. I always fulfill my promise. I must say I promise rarely.
-Some members of the management board of the Open Society Party said that according to the party rules, a member can be dismissed if he misses the party sitting three times with inadequate reasons. They want this item to be concerned Aydin Guliyev. What is you assessment of that?
-16 years have passed since the collapse of the Soviet empire but it seems the tendency of â€œnoisyâ€ dismissals from a party still remains. No one will be dismissed form the Open Society Party. Citizenâ€™s oral or written appeal is enough to not regard him or her as the party member.
-What are your comments on the suspension of Baku Khabar newspaper? It is reported that the suspension is a means of pressure of Aydin Guliyev against you.
-He was disappointed as much as me because of the suspension of the newspaper. Certain efforts are being made to republish the newspaper, and I often contact him and give certain orders. I must say I always contacted the newspaperâ€™s editor irrespective who he was. As to pressures, how could they imagine that I can put pressure because of nonsense?
-Will you render financial aid for the restoration of the publication of the newspaper?
-Several wall newspapers published in Azerbaijan is in the level of cheap boulevard newspapers. The mostly read shocking materials are based on rumour. Such opposition newspapers should not function. Of course, Baki Xabar (Baku news) newspaper was not such type of newspaper. The newspaper was published with 10 thousand copies beforehand. Therefore the idea â€œthis nation is not inclined to serious writings, they are used to shocking liesâ€ is worthless. If this newspaper is published it should coincide with the above-said criteria. The government should be criticized and accused of several things. The government should not be accused of issuing fool newspapers.
-Chairman of Open Society Party Akif Shahbazov and deputy chairman Yagub Abbasov state that Rasul Guliyev will participate in the presidential elections scheduled for 2008 irrespective of the amendments in Election Code. But you said in your interview to the APA that all should boycott elections if free election condition is not established. Will you nominate your candidacy?
-My opinion regarding presidential elections still remains unchanged.
-What is your assessment on defining single candidate of the opposition?
-Opposition parties should confirm their existence and show their joint activity. How the opposition can have single candidate if it does not exist? Selecting singlecandidate is very hard and complicated process. For example, 5 opposition leaders who are mentioned in the pages of the newspapers at present want to attend the elections and become President of the country for five-year term. It means that the conference should be held at the participation of the people representing these 5 leaders and every candidate should make a report and debates should be carried out on the reports. This process can last 5 or 10 days and then one candidate should be elected through polling. If democratic future of Azerbaijani nation concerns somebody, he has plans and programs and he is able to defend it in front of the conference attendees, this work should be done. Though government officers collect money in various ways and are responsible for the concrete work, several opposition leaders have such privileges without any responsibility. For example they have body-guards, secretaries, servants, cars and a lot of other things. If they have no any idea we can speak of nothing.
-Why the party has been named Open Society? Does it have any connection with George Sorosâ€™s Open Society Institute?
-Of course it can be seen shameful, but I did not know that the name of Sorosâ€™s Foundation was Open Society. My aim was to establish open society and I said it in all the interviews I gave within past 11 years and I often used this term. /APA/

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