"Musavat" will call to boycott European Games

The upcoming meeting on May15 of the Azerbaijani presidential administration with a number of political parties will be devoted to the upcoming Baku European Games, said  at a press conference today the leader of the party "Musavat" Arif Hajili.

"The authorities' intention to establish contacts with political parties is a positive phenomenon. However, establishing the rule of arbitrary format and agenda of the meeting, without the consent of its members is unacceptable," said Hajili.

He is not inclined to regard such meetings a dialogue between government and opposition. However, such a dialogue is necessary to discuss three important issues: the problem of political prisoners; ensure higher representation of Azerbaijan at the upcoming May 21-22 summit of "Eastern Partnership", and the signing of the Association Agreement; identify ways of demreform, freedom of the press, assembly, association and others.

"If the authorities accept our proposal,"Musavat" will take part in these meetings. For "Musavat" these issues are matters of national security,"  said Hajili. Referring to the upcoming European Games, he said that "Musavat"  does not support  the event, which spent billions in the current economic crisis and the problem of political prisoners. If political prisoners are not released until May 28, the "Musavat" will call for a boycott of the Games, said Hajili.

Referring to the Riga summit "Eastern Partnership", Hajili said that "Musavat", as heir to the ideas of the Azerbaijan People's Republic (1918 -20 years) sees the future of the country's European integration. At the summit, the Azerbaijani authorities should clearly and strongly stated about the choice of European integration, he said.

On the issue of political prisoners, Hajili said that  in Azerbaijan with population of  10 million , there are more political prisoners now than  in Russia with  the population 140 million (80 prisoners.)

For the "Musavat" this issue is a priority, and party activists started a hunger strike, demanding the release of political prisoners.

Answering journalists' questions, Hajili called the 8th Congress of the "Musavat"  helds in September last year a historical event, stating that Isa Gambar, declined for the third time to run for the post of head of the party.

"Musavat" held a democratic and transparent election of the new head of the party live on the Internet, which should be an example to the authorities.

He also pointed to a generational change in the "Musavat" and therefore, there were some internal problems. As a result of the change of generations, heads of regional organizationsalso change, said Hajili. -03C06-