Azerbaijan, Baku, 18 September/ Trend , corr I. Alizade/ Andreas Herkel, head of observation mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) described boycott of presidential elections by several opposition parties as the most unsuccessful side of the process.
"Even if a political party and its leaders do not see real chances to come to power by means of elections and think their democratic are restricted and violated, they should take part in the elections for the sake of interests of their followers," Herkel said at a news conference in Baku.
On 5 September, parties included in Azadlig bloc the (the Popular Front Party, the Liberal Party and the Citizen and Development), the Musavat Party and the Public Forum 'For Azerbaijan' signed a joint statement on recognition of the presidential elections to be held on 15 October as illegitimate. Government to be formed after the presidential elections, are announced as illegitimate in the statement.
Head of PACE observation mission called on all political forces including parties boycotting elections to be responsible and to hold fundamental dialogue among them. "No matter what is the difference, these political forces should refrain from mutual accusations and engaged in the discussions over more important issues," he said.
The decision of boycotting elections creates difficulties for the representatives of the mission in terms of protecting democratic rights of these leaders. The observation mission calls on all political forces to solve problems by means of political dialogue. Dialogue is always important, Herkel said.
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