19:32, 22 September 2004

Azerbaijan opposition parties to hold meeting

Two opposition parties, the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party ("reformers") and Musavat, decided to hold a meeting on the eve of the autumn session of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE). The parties' demands are practically the same.

In his interview with the Caucasian Knot correspondent, chair of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Kerimli said the decision to hold the meeting was made to demand that Azerbaijan should honor its commitments to the Council of Europe. "The Azerbaijan authorities haven't allowed to hold meetings already for a year, violating citizens' constitutional rights in such a way." Mr Kerimli said the holding of the meeting on the eve of the PACE session was not accidental. "Let the PACE be aware that citizens' rights are violated in Azerbaijan time and again," he explained. Deputy chair of the Musavat party Vurgun Eyub also emphasized the action was timed to the PACE session opening on October 4, 2004 in Strasbourg.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot