Unification of Azerbaijani opposition With One Candidate is Possible after Second Round of Elections –MP

Azerbaijan, Baku, 26 February / Trend corr. G.Jabiyev / Participation of the Azerbaijani opposition in the elections with one candidate is not obligatory. "The issue to nominate one candidate is possible only after the second round of elections," MP Panah Huseyn, a member of Musavat MP group, stated to Trend . The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 15 October 2008. Opposition parties will nominate their candidates for the presidential post. Musavat and Democratic parties insist on the unification of opposition around one candidate. Rasul Guliyev, Ex-Speaker who has emigrated to the US, supports this initiative and commissioned the Open Society Party to hold negotiations in this direction. The ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party (NAP) will nominate the candidature of the President Ilham Aliyev. Azadlig bloc, which unites three opposition parties, has stated that they will boycott the elections if no changes are made to the composition of the election commissions. Huseyn believes that participation of the opposition in the elections with one candidate is not natural or necessary. "The most important thing is to hold free and fair elections, improve the situation in the sphere of the press and provide freedom of assembly," the MP stated. Musavat MP Group unites five MPs.