Azerbaijan, Baku, 25 September/ Trend , corr J. Babayeva, I. Alizade/ Former President of Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutallibov says government should draw conclusion from the boycott of elections by several opposition parties.
"If democracy in Azerbaijan conformed to European standards and presidential elections were conducted in a democratic and transparent way, there would be no boycott," Mutallibov said to Trend by telephone.
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.
Several parties are boycotting elections deliberately. If Azerbaijan does not conduct democratic elections, a strong blow will be dealt to country's image, former president said.
The presidential elections will not solve problems in Azerbaijan and opposition parties will continue their usual activities, he said.
"There is no person with Ayaz Mutallibov name in Azerbaijani politics and government is not interested in what he says," Siyavush Novruzov, deputy executive secretary of ruling New Azerbaijan Party said to Trend .
Presidential elections will be free, democratic and transparent. All conditions have been provided for the purpose, he said.
"OSCE, Council of Europe and other international organizations have announced that Election Code of provides conditions for free, democratic and transparent elections," he added.
SDPA is a lefty wing opposition party. The co-chairman of the party is Araz Alizade and the other co-chairman is Ayaz Mutallibov, former president who lives in immigration at present. Ayaz Mutallibov was elected first president in 1991 when Azerbaijan gained independence. Later an action was brought against him. He has been living in immigration in Russia since 1992.
NAP was established by the chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Heydar Aliyev in 1992. The current President Ilham Aliyev is the chairman of the Party which has been ruling for already 15 years.