On Results of Meeting between Ali Hasanov and Political Parties (UPDATED)

At the end of a three-hour meeting between the department head of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov and the leaders of 17 political parties, it was decided to continue these consultations and expand their format.

Hasanov told journalists that the meeting discussed the "questions troubling parties and citizens about the socio-political and socio-economic life of the country, foreign policy and international relations.

A question was raised about the arrested persons and the participants also touched upon the elections and electoral commissions. According to Hasanov, the participants agreed that it is necessary to attract representatives of other parties to such meetings.

Hasanov said that the political parties raised the question of financing their activities by the state, providing them with headquarters, as well as the creation of conditions for the media to operate freely.

The head of the party Umid, MP Igbal Aghazadeh called the meeting "a first step".

Now it's the authorities that should make steps to address the issue of political prisoners and reform the electoral code.

Aghazadeh expressed regret that several parties did not show a clear position at the meeting and could not explain what they want.

It was suggested to also involve other opposition parties, which have weight in society, to the dialogue.

The leader of the Democratic Party, Sardar Jalaloglu said that it was just a meeting. The willingness of the authorities to solve the problems of concern to the society will show whether the process will turn to a dialogue.

The leader of the Classic Popular Front, Mirmahmud Miralioglu called the meeting a "normal thing for the first time."

According to the results of these meetings the problems of concern to society can be gradually solved.

He also called for participation of the whole spectrum of opposition forces in these meetings to develop consensus on how to address the existing problems.

The date of the next meeting was not named. -05S06-

2014 December 13 (Saturday) 12:07:05

A meeting of the head of the public policy department of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov with the leaders of more than 15 political parties started in the International Press Center today. The power represents this meeting as a dialogue with the opposition.

At the beginning of the meeting Hasanov noted the importance of such a meeting. According to him, that power is strong, "which works with parties and civil society."

He said that the meeting may discuss any topic and put forward proposals that will be submitted to the head of state. Then the meeting was held without the participation of the press.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Classic Popular Front Party Mirmahmud Miralioglu told Turan that one of the main topics of the meeting will be the problem of political prisoners.

The meeting is also attended by the leaders of the Democratic Party, the Umid Party, the Azadlig Party, the Aydinlar Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Great Azerbaijan Party, the Citizen and Development Party, the Great Creation Party, the Civil Solidarity Party, the National Independence Party, the Popular Front Single Azerbaijan, the Democratic Reforms Party, the Vahdat Party, the Communist Party, and the Party of National Revival Movement.

The parties themselves initiated the meeting.

The deputy chairman of the party Musavat, Gulaga Aslanli previously told Turan that Musavat did not address a proposal to organize such a meeting, so it would not take part in the meeting.

A member of the Supreme Majlis of PFPA Hasan Karimov told Turan he believes that participation in such meetings is pointless. -05D06-