Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 13
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
Today's meeting discussed all issues of concern to the Azerbaijani society, citizens and political parties, and the issues of state activity in economic, political and social spheres and international relations, the Head of the Public and Political Issues Department of Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov said Dec. 13.
He was addressing a press conference held after a meeting with a group of opposition parties' heads.
Hasanov said that following the event it was decided to continue such meetings.
"The great importance of continuing such meetings in future was underscored both by us, as government representatives, and by the political parties according to the meeting results," Hasanov said.
"We came to a conclusion that the meetings will continue making joint decisions on a regular basis, so that they will discuss the time of holding meetings, the issues to be discussed, as well as the foreign and domestic policy issues that are of concern to parties and citizens," he added.
Hasanov further said the meeting discussed the matters concerning Azerbaijani authorities and political parties, the activity of independent media, as well as the issues related to a number of arrested persons, around which there are nowadays serious talks.
"An open exchange of views was held on all matters," Hasanov said, "We, as the government representatives, listened to most of the opinions, summarized them and will communicate them to the heads of government structures, and I will also inform the head of state about the main results achieved on the discussed issues."
Hasanov also noted that not all the opposition parties of Azerbaijan were represented at the meeting.
"Some 17 political parties were represented, eight of which made the preliminary initiative for a meeting," Hasanov said, adding that after the information on a planned meeting was disseminated by the press, other parties also expressed the desire to participate in it.
He added that all the political parties should be invited to the next meetings, and they should be held in a generalized form with the heads of all opposition parties.
"Each political party has its own view on society and the pursued policy," he said.
Hasanov added that the meeting also discussed the funding of political parties, provision of them with headquarters, the issues related to electoral institutions, the participation of parties in elections, government events and others.
He also assessed the meeting as quite favorable and dynamic.
"Prerequisites were created for future meetings and their topics were preliminarily defined," Hasanov said.