Condemnation of the innocent is a great shame for Azerbaijan, Ilgar Mammadov

Baku/07.08.20/Turan: The programmatic goal of the Republican Alternative party is the reign of a genuine republican system and democracy in Azerbaijan, Party leader Ilgar Mammadov said in an interview with the Azerbaijani service of the Voice of America, commenting on the results of the founding congress of the organization.  

"Today in Azerbaijan the fundamental principles of the republic have been undermined, as well as the very concept of" republic ", its structure and system," Mammadov said. 

When asked whether the party could be registered, Mammadov said that the mayor's office had not allocated a place for the congress, but at meetings with government officials, it was said that the online congress could also be the basis for registration; and it was done.

“If we are registered, then the policy is really changing. If not, then there is nothing to expect,” he said.

Continuing the topic of meetings with a representative of the presidential administration, Mammadov said that the dialogue continues. “There is an exchange of views and we will use these opportunities to the end to resolve issues,” Mammadov said. In particular, the issue of improving the position of civil society.

ReAl raises practical political and economic issues that can improve people's lives, he said. “Dialogue and communication are the professional duties of a politician. We will fulfill these responsibilities to the end,” Mammadov said.

He rejected claims that ReAl had taken a position of compromise with the authorities and had behind the scenes agreements. “We completely openly participate in the dialogue, and do not hold, like others, secret meetings. We periodically inform about it. This is a civilized political process,” Mammadov said.

Is there ReAl dialogue with other opposition parties? To this question, Mammadov stated that ReAl is open to dialogue with all parties.

“This requires an appropriate atmosphere. It is impossible when a campaign of slander is being waged against you,” he said, without specifying who and what he meant.

Commenting on the arrests of oppositionists due to the July 15 rally, Mammadov said that in the absence of evidence, such sentences could only cause condemnation. “This is a big shame for Azerbaijan,” he said.

Referring to foreign policy, Mammadov said that this issue was bypassed in the party's program.

“Our program says nothing about foreign policy. This was done deliberately, because the foreign policy of the Azerbaijani government is quite dynamic.

At some point, our position may coincide with the official one, in other cases, no. We will talk about the priorities of foreign policy before each election,” Mammadov said. On the clarifying question of what exactly Real's positions do not coincide with the official line, Mammadov pointed out excessive attachment with the countries of the former USSR.

ReAl supports the course of signing a new agreement with the EU and endorses the recent announcement by President Aliyev to accelerate this process. —06D-