Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 9/ Trend , A. Huseynbala/ Azerbaijani opposition failed to establish joint referendum initiative group. Civil Movement for Republic and Karabakh was established instead.
"The opposition should establish single initiative group which will include independent intellectuals, representatives of non-governmental organizations and lawyers," chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Ali Karimli said in a press conference on Jan. 9.
In late December, Azerbaijan's parliament passed a decision to hold a referendum March 18 to amend 29 articles of the Constitution.
According to Article 152, the Constitution can only be amended via referendum. Additionally, Article 153 states that if the parliament or president proposes an amendment, the Constitutional Court must reach its own conclusions regarding the proposal before the referendum vote.
The Constitution was adopted in 1995. Amendments and additions were made in 2002.
Azerbaijan's governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) has established the New Azerbaijan initiative group, and the opposition Musavat party - The Republicans initiative group. The Central Election Commission has given a notification to register NAP initiative group.
Co-founder of the left-wing Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (SDPA) Araz Alizade said opposition groups are trying to prove they exist by launching referendum initiative groups.
"None of these groups will be effective," Alizade told Trend on Jan. 9. "There is no point establishing them. They only want to make a bit of noise to show the opposition actually exists."
The NAP deputy executive secretary Mubariz Gurbanli said to journalists earlier that there is a need for referendum vote to amend the Constitution.
Karimli said the opposition needs to establish a unified coalition against the referendum.
The first draft designed by the Azadlig bloc proposed to name the initiative group Movement for Republic. Chairman of the Umid Party and MP Igbal Agazade offered to add Karabakh to this name.
During the discussion it was also proposed to name initiative group Republic and Karabakh.
Musavat party chief Isa Gambar did not accept launching of opposition's single initiative group.
"We want the opposition to take joint action regarding the referendum. But it is more appropriate to launch several initiative groups to campaign against amendments," Gambar said.
He said single initiative group is less likely to be registered. "If several groups are established and one of them is registered, all opposition forces will have an opportunity again to take a joint action," Gambar said.
Participants of the meeting offered forces campaigning against the referendum to join the Republican initiative group of the Musavat Party.
The Civil Movement for Republic and Garabag was founded at the end of the meeting. The movement consists of parties of Azadlig bloc which includes the Popular Front Party, the National Unity Movement, the Citizen and Development Party, the Musavat Party, the Umid Party and the Democrat Party, as well as the For Azerbaijan Public Forum and some non-government organizations.
Establishment of the opposition initiative groups on referendum will be discussed next week.
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