Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 20 / Trend , A.Huseynbala/
An Azerbaijani new pro-opposition party will not participate in a referendum campaign.
"As we have not passed registration at the Ministry of Justice, we cannot join political organizations as a party," Aydinlar Party Chairman Gulamhuseyn Alibayli told Trend on Feb. 20.
The referendum campaign began on Feb. 18 and will end March 16 at midnight.
The groups will have an opportunity to debate the referendum from 18:15 to 19:45 on Saturdays and 20:15 to 21:45 on Wednesdays on the Public Television station. The groups will be allotted four blocks of free airtime on public television and radio during the campaign period.
Azerbaijan will hold a referendum on March 18 to amend the Constitution.
The CEC registered the New Azerbaijan Party, Shahar, Tereggi, Huquq Va Demokratiya, Vatandash Jamiyyati, For Long-Term Development, Zaka, Movement For Karabakh and the Republic and Republicans initiative groups. The Abad Kand, Azad Soz, Azerbaijan People's Republic and Milli Istiglal initiative groups failed to pass registration.
The Azerbaijani Constitution was adopted in 1995. Amendments and additions were made in 2002.
Alibayli said that they also will not cooperate with any referendum agitation groups. "As we do not want to join any opposition political force, we commissioned our members to agitate independently against amending and changing the Constitution," the party's chairman said.
"As to participation of the party's members in polling, we have given freedom to our members," Alibayli said. "The party's each members were instructed to vote against amendments and changes," Alibayli stressed.
The founding meeting of the Aydinlar party took place on Dec. 14.
Alibayli was elected chairman.
Alibayli was an adviser to President Abulfaz Elchibay in 1992-1993. He was elected as a member of parliament for two consecutive terms from 1995-2005. He has also been a member of the Azerbaijani parliament's delegation to PACE. He has been a member of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party since 1989 and chairman of the Supreme Majlis of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party since 1993.
In early August, Alibayli left the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party to found Aydinlar.
In early October, the chairmen of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party's Lankaran, Samukh and Gakh branches also resigned to continue their political activities with Aydinlar.
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