Ex-Chairman of Musavat Party's Assembly: Party is close to collapsing

The Azerbaijani opposition Musavat Party is close to collapse, Ex-Chairman of Musavat Party's Assembly Sulheddin Akbar said at today's news conference.

"The Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) has left the crisis behind," Akbar said. "If Musavat and PFPA do not unite, Musavat will face difficulties," he added.

Akbar and Party's Assembly member Ibrahim Ibrahimli resigned on Nov. 29. Akbar said he resigned due to a disagreement with the party's strategic course. Meanwhile, Ibrahimli said the party's leadership simply did not trust him.

In their joint statement made on Nov.30, Akbar and Ibrahimli said they resigned due to the differences of antagonistic opinion within the party and oppose of some individuals within "Musavat" to the PFPA-Musavat union.

Musavat head Isa Gambar proposed to unite the parties following the course of Rasulzadeh-Elchibey on July 15 at the 21st anniversary event of the Popular Front of Azerbaijan. The Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan reacted first to the proposal. The PFPA decided to join the "Musavat" at the congress held on Sept. 25.

Musavat Party was established in October 1911 in Baku. On May 28, 1918 in Tbilisi, Musavat Party together with several parties announced the independence of Azerbaijan. In connection with the occupation of Azerbaijan by the Red Army in 1920, Musavat Party proceeded to the secret activities.

The party was re-launched Nov. 7, 1992. Isa Gambar was elected chief of the party. A former parliamentary speaker, Gambar ran in the 2003 presidential elections. The party has four MPs in parliament.


/Trend/