Azerbaijan, Baku, 4 August / Trend , E.Babayev / The opposition Azerbaijani Musavat party decided to observe the upcoming presidential elections. "In its meeting on 4 August the party's Assembly decided to observe actively the elections campaign," Arif Hajili, the head of Musavat Central Executive Body, told Trend after the gathering on 4 August.
The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 15 October. The Musavat party decided to participate in the presidential elections in October 2007. However, at a meeting held on 2 August the party decided not to participate in the elections. The Civil Solidarity, the Democratic and the Great Establishment parties refused to participate in the elections with own candidates. Three opposition parties, including the Popular Front, the Liberal and the Civil Development, which is united in the Azadlig bloc, and the Classical Popular Front party decided to boycott the presidential elections.
According to Hajili, Musavat's Divan held discussions on Musavat's Assembly, which took place on 2 August. "We exchanged opinions on responses followed after Musavat's refusal to participate in the elections. At the same time, the Divan heard a report by its Elections Department on legislation specifying the opportunities granted to parties, not joining the presidential elections, to conduct observation in the polls and to hold political actions," Hajili said. Divan assessed the Assembly's decision as a common opinion of the majority in the party. Hajili said that Musavat did not intend to support any party. "This decision is not discussed because major opposition parties will not participate in the elections."
Oppositional Musavat party was established in 1992. Isa Gambar, the chairman of the party, was the speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament (1992-93) and presidential candidate in the presidential elections held 2003.
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