Azerbaijan, Baku, May 13 / Trend , J. Babayeva/
Ruling New Azerbaijan Party Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary Ali Ahmadov spoke in an exclusive interview with Trend .
Trend : Though opposition parties represented at the parliament say a dialogue will be launched with the ruling party, no dialogue has been held so far. What is the reason?
Ali Ahmadov: I think the dialogue initiative is moving forward as parties represented in the parliament and the NAP which hold majority of seats have held joint events. I believe these events mark beginning of government-opposition dialogue. Continuation of dialogue initiatives and joint discussions on Azerbaijan's interests will lead to parties' coming closer. Joint events promote dialogue.
Q: You say there is a good basis for a dialogue. Can government-opposition dialogue take place any time soon?
A: I want the dialogue atmosphere to become a process. Parties or other sides must create dialogue atmosphere. It should be chief purpose. Earlier dialogue was thought to be an unusual event. I think dialogue is a willingness of parties to exchange views on certain issues and taking steps in this regard. Joint events are a good start for a dialogue. The process must develop on these principles.
Q: Can Azerbaijani parties be transparent in making financial reports?
A: First of all the ways of financing of parties must be studied. Our party makes financial report every year. Azerbaijani public is informed about the NAP financial resources. Our sole financial source is membership fees. The party covers all expenditures through membership fees and ensures its activities. We make financial reports under Azerbaijan's legislation. We do not do it as a gesture, but as an obligation. It can set a good example for other parties so that they will also announce their financial sources. A party can not operate without finance. If any party says it operates via funds of volunteer members, it means they try to hide their financial resources. I call on other parties to make financial reports.
Q: Financing parties through public budget has become into an actual topic. What principles do you support to finance the parties?
A: There is a need to hold serious discussions on financing parties through the Public budget and to make accurate decisions. Firstly the criteria to finance parties must be clarified. It must absolutely be taken into consideration that political parties are financed by state in parliamentary countries. Azerbaijan is not a parliamentary country. However, despite this, we appreciate financing political parties through Public budget. As the most optimal variant, the parties must be financed by state in accordance with the degree of their representation in the Parliament. Because, financing parties on the basis of other parameters will cause serious questions and significantly complicate the issue.
Q: We would like to know the ruling party's position on the accident occurred at the State Oil Academy.
A: This accident shook all of us. Murdering students is a tragedy for every parent. This accident is a very regretful case and it was impossible to prevent this. It seems that the man committing this crime prepared so that no one could get aware of the accident previously. I regret that such accidents occur all over the world. However, this fact does not mitigate our bitter regarding murdering young Azerbaijani people. I suppose the appropriate agencies of Azerbaijan will get results from the bloody accident and the security measures will be further strengthened. There is no gift more valuable than human for the society. And State's first duty is to ensure protection of this gift for each citizen and family. It is possible that the man committing this bloody accident is mentally sick or maybe the accident was prepared by some people. All these will be specified as a result of investigation. It would be wrong to focus on any opinion beforehand while the investigation is continuing. In any case, if this accident was committed to break public-political stability in the country, we decisively condemn this. It is impossible to break public-political stability in Azerbaijan through such dirty actions.
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