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Rauf Arifoglu: â€œPeople around me demand me to nominate for Presidencyâ€

04 August 2008 15:40 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Elnur Mammadliâ€“APA. â€œMembers of the party and heads of regional organizations regretted for Musavatâ€™s decision on absence in the elections. They contacted and expressed their regret. Musavat supporters do not want to loose chance gained every five years. People around me demanded me to nominate for Presidencyâ€, Rauf Arifoglu, member of Musavat Party, editor-in-chief of Yeni Musavat newspaper told APA.
He noted that Musavatâ€™s decision on absence in the elections was bad for existence and future of democracy. To him, democratic campus stands far from struggle by the decision of Musavat.
â€œI think more than participation in the elections that how we can assist the party and campus not to sink and other democratic institutions and political newspapersâ€, he said.
He stated that there was short time for nomination and stressed that if he changed his mind, he would carry out all procedure.
â€œI talked to Isa one year ago on this issue. I expressed my anxiety that nobody would go election and you would not go election as well. Nobody wanted to struggle with Ilham Aliyev during his strong tenure. If you do not participate in the election, let me know and I want to establish my issues in this directionâ€, he said. We agreed that he would attend the elections and would win voting process by our support.
Unfortunately it did not happen. The decision was made in October last year on participation in the elections, on August 2 this year a decision was made in contrast with it and the position changed. I agree that little time is left and it is actually impossible to make concrete decision, start procedures, establish groups of support and form election office. In this respect I am determining all the opportunities. If Musavat activists want to share their views and opportunities with me, I am ready to contact everybodyâ€, he said.
Arifoglu said that he feared to make a hasty decision, because this step might be assessed as objecting to the decision of the Assembly, decisions of the party and especially for Isa Gambar.
â€œThis will be assessed so. But I think objecting to the partyâ€™s decision does not mean objecting to Azerbaijan. I think the partyâ€™s refusing to participate in the elections means opposing democracy in Azerbaijan. In this respect I will make final decision,â€ he said.
The editor-in-chief refuted the reports that a group of persons were dismissed from the meeting of Musavat Assembly and Rauf Arifoglu had sent them to the Assembly.
â€œShame on those people who acted so. I have investigated it, they were members of the partyâ€™s Youth Organization, women members of Musavat. The members of the party support the decision passed by Musavat Assembly in October last year and they went there because Isa Gambarâ€™s nomination for presidency should have been confirmed. Who knew what would happen there. People are interested in the decisions related to their life and the speeches supporting Isa Gambarâ€™s nomination were applauded. Those, who were dismissed from the meeting, applauded Isa Gambar. Speaking about them as diversionists, dismissing Musavat members from the meeting is a shameful act. I regard it as disrespect for Musavat members and myself. I repeat that I had nothing to do with that shameful process,â€ he said.