Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 15/ Trend , A. Huseynbala/
The head of the Public Forum for Azerbaijan said opposition parties and public organizations should launch a joint referendum initiative group.
"It is good that each party is launching its own initiative group from a theoretical standpoint," said Eldar Namazov, head of the Public Forum for Azerbaijan. "But it will be difficult to collect 40,000 signatures and register all the initiative groups in a short period."
The Public Forum for Azerbaijan joined the Civil Movement for Karabakh and the Republic, which was launched by several opposition parties and public organizations.
Azerbaijan's governing partyhas launched the New Azerbaijan initiative group. The opposition Musavat party has established the Republicans initiative group. The Central Election Commission (CEC) has issued a notification to NAP about the initiative group's registration.
The Azadlig bloc has launched the Azerbaijan People's Republic initiative group. The bloc includes the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, National Unity Movement, Citizen and Development Party, Musavat, Umid, and the Democratic Party.
NAP Deputy Executive Secretary Mubariz Gurbanli told Trend earlier that the opposition initiative groups will be ineffective.
As many as 21 media leaders launched Free Speech initiative group on Jan. 10.
On the same day, the Azerbaijan Confederation of Trade Unions and several non-governmental organizations established the Public Organizations initiative group.
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.
Namazov said launching a single initiative group would create opportunities to work together to promote democracy.
"I suggested establishing a center to unite political parties and public organizations," he said.
"Although the opposition did not establish a unified initiative group, we can still campaign together," he added. "If the opposition opens a center, we would be able to hold round-table discussions, conferences and forums."
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