APA
15.01.2010
LALA SHEVKET: "I AM NOT GOING TO ASSURE PEOPLE THAT WE WILL WIN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS"
Leader of National Unity Movement Lala Shevket`s interview to APA
- 2010 is a year of parliamentary election in Azerbaijan. Has the opposition begun preparations for the election?

- The year has just started. We have first to analyse the last municipal elections in order to say something about the forthcoming parliamentary election. The municipal elections were a dress rehearsal for the government before the parliamentary election. The opposition was not provided with necessary conditions to participate in the elections. Therefore the opposition should consolidate its forces to participate in the parliamentary election as a unified force. Otherwise the situation we observed during the municipal elections would repeat itself in the parliamentary election.

- How will the opposition participate in the parliamentary election? Do you discuss this issue?

- The whole opposition must unite, while the democratic forces are facing this hard situation. Our intention can be realised only after ending discrimination between the opposition parties. The parties should leave their ambitions aside. If the opposition unite its forces, it can achieve positive results. I have always support unity of the opposition. I would like the opposition to understand seriousness of the situation. Only united can we achieve any result. I do not intend to give false promises, because everything depends on the society's activeness. The entire nation should take an active part in this process. Experience of the last several years shows that the voters are not active in this process. If the opposition participates in the election in several blocs again, there will be no hope for success.

- There are discussions as to whether the Azadliq Bloc and Musavat Party should establish an alliance. Does the bloc discuss this issue?

- There are no discussions as such within the Bloc. I would like to emphasize that it is the unity of the whole spectrum of the opposition, which we need today. Existence of several opposition blocs will confuse the society. I think that the opposition should run in the election as a united camp. All democratic forces should unite their efforts.

- What are the results of discussions conducted within the bloc?

- The discussions have not been held yet. Therefore, there can be no results.

- A unity was established before the previous parliamentary election in Azerbaijan and some success was obtained. How do you assess this proposal?

- I do not think that there has been any success in the parliamentary election of 2005. Even if there has been a minor success, everybody knows how the opposition is represented in the parliament now. Of course, the people are discontented with the authorities. In this situation the opposition should be together. We can win, but we can not confirm it. This confirmation will depend on the activeness of the public. I do not want to give false hopes to the people that we will win in the parliamentary elections. I have never told a lie, and do not want to do it now. Everything will depend on each and every one of us. Every single citizen of this country.

- After this proposal was made, Musavat Party said they could establish an alliance only with Azerbaijan Popular Front Party. They said they did not intend to establish a unity with the other parties of the Bloc. What can you say about Musavat's position?

- All these are just media reports. Something is written, then it is refuted. Therefore, I can speak only about discussions that have took place. Such discussions have not been held.

- You offer to establish a common unity of the opposition. What parties do you mean?

- All genuinely democratic forces should be brought together.

- What about Umid Party?

- Why not? Umid Party was member of the Movement "For Qarabagh and Republic" during the referendum and we all collaborated within this movement. I would not like to concentrate this issue specifically on Umid Party, for I think that all the democratic forces should unite in one centre.

- The year of elections has started. Is there a need to start discussions? Do you think the opposition should accelerate the discussions?

- It does not matter when the discussions begin. There were times when we started early discussions, but they failed after 3-4 months. Sometimes we held discussions for just three days and achieved a lot. So, it does not depend on time. It depends on intention. Any result requires sincerity. We have recently observed that after long-lasting discussions every party goes its own way. Sometimes parties chose separate ways despite their signatures.

Elnur Mammadli