Azerbaijani opposition leader: We do not take proposals to combine efforts seriously

“We adhere to statements we made earlier and plan  to take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections independently. In general, we take any unity the Azerbaijani opposition can create seriously,” he said.

"Azerbaijan needs a strong opposition. We cannot consider the proposals serious as they come only from election to election,” Rustamkhanli said.
 
Rustamkhanli also commented on opposition Musavat Party’s plans to elect a new chief after the parliamentary elections.

"This question depends on willingness of most members of the Musavat party, and our intervention in this matter would be wrong. The only thing I know is that currently there are no new leaders who could replace the previous ones. They were supposed to appear, but this did not happen. This can be said about all the opposition parties," the opposition leader said.

He also touched on the dispute between the Musavat Party Leader and Acting Chairman of the Liberal Party of Azerbaijan Avaz Temirkhan.

"These differences can not be taken seriously, because their forces are not comparable. I do not see such a party as Liberal in Azerbaijan’s political arena. Both Temirkhan and Lala Shovket Hajiyeva are independent persons.”

Azerbaijan will hold the next parliamentary elections in 2010. The previous elections took place in Nov. 2005.

A. Imanov