Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 21 / Trend , J.babayeva /
The Union of Azerbaijani Intelligentsia (UAI) has accused the opposition of carelessness.
"We attended the first meeting of the Civil Movement for Republic and Karabakh opposition initiative group," Chairman of the UAI Eldaniz Guliev said. "But we were not invited to the second meeting. So we decided that we are not needed in the group. I think the opposition will fail without our support."
A referendum to make amendments to 29 articles of the Constitution will be held on March 18.
Azerbaijan's governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) has launched the New Azerbaijan initiative group. The opposition Musavat party has launched the Republicans initiative group.
The Azadlig bloc, For Azerbaijan Public Forum and several non-governmental organizations established the Civil Movement for Republic and Karabakh initiative group. The Azadlig bloc composes the Popular Front Party, National Unity Movement, Citizen and Development Party, Musavat, Umid and the Democratic Party.
The Union for Democracy, which unites the Classic People's Front, Azadlig, National and Democratic, Great Azerbaijan and People's, launched the Azerbaijan People's Republic initiative group.
NAP Deputy Executive Secretary Mubariz Gurbanli told Trend earlier that the opposition initiative groups will be ineffective.
The Constitution was adopted in 1995. Amendments and additions were made in 2002.
According to Guliyev, the Civil Movement for Republic and Karabakh initiative group is insincere.
"I do not believe the initiative group will have serious results," he said. "At the same time, though, I do not condemn them because they need to show some sort of resistance. But this resistance should be based on sincerity."
Guliyev said the UAI will not be represented in initiative groups speaking out against the referendum.
"The UAI protests changes to the Constitution through media and other means," he said.
The UAI was founded in 2003 and was registered at the Justice Ministry in 2007. The association aims to protect the rights of the intelligentsia and negotiate with the authorities and opposition.
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