Azerbaijan, Baku, August 27 / Trend A. Huseynbala /
A group of Azerbaijani opposition parties represented in the union is continuing to hold meetings on protests against the Madrid principles on settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The necessity for protests was discussed at a meeting with the Chairman of the Musavat party, Isa Gambar, on August 26," Chairman of the Azadliq party, represented in the Union for Democracy, Ahmad Oruj, told Trend on August 27.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7 districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Oruj said that the Chairman of the Musavat party also opposed the Madrid principles.
"Gambar said that if the Madrid principles were adopted, Azerbaijan would face the total loss of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Chairman of the Musavat party stressed that it is necessary to hear the public's protests against the afore-mentioned principles before preparing demonstrations," the Chairman of the Azadliq party said.
Oruj said that Gambar stands for the continuation of meetings in protest. "But the Chairman of the Musavat party disagrees with holding protests on the date we offered. The final decision of the Azerbaijani authorities concerning the Madrid principles is still unknown, Gambar said. Holding protests is not reasonable," Ahmad Oruj said.
The Chairman of Azadliq party and political forces participating in the Karabakh forums, which are held on the Union for Democracy's initiative, have agree to hold strikes and other demonstrations against the Madrid principles. "Even if opposition parties not represented in the union do not support our initiative, we will hold protests soon, and then rallies," Oruj said.
The parties represented in the Union for Democracy have made a decision to hold joint an opposition demonstration against the Madrid principles, which were proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group in order to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. A work group, established for this purpose, is holding meetings with leaders of opposition parties to support the plan.
The Union for Democracy was established after the 2005 parliamentary elections. The Classic People's Front, Azadliq, National Democracy, the Great Azerbaijani Party and the People's Party are represented in the Union.
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