23:15, 23 December 2004

Opposition 'must show its strength' in 2005 parliamentary elections

The Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) offers the opposition to participate in the 2005 parliamentary elections as a united bloc. "The APFP presidium has reached a consensus that a new opposition bloc should be created to unite all democratic forces in the country," a spokesman for the party announced today.

In his exclusive interview with a Caucasian Knot correspondent, the APFP leader, Ali Kerimli, stated that the December 17 municipal elections in Azerbaijan were the first elections actively boycotted by the population. "These elections have proved one more time that the Azerbaijan authorities don't want to hold democratic elections in the country, and therefore the opposition must show its strength in the parliamentary elections to be held next year or leave Azerbaijan's political arena. The opposition doesn't have another choice," Mr Kerimli noted. In his words, the entire democratic world will closely watch the parliamentary elections in the autumn of 2005.

It is worth reminding that the Yeni Azerbaijan party won the December 17 municipal elections having a considerable advantage.