By empty (8/25/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
The leaders of Azerbaijan\'s four most influential opposition parties -- Isa Gambar (Musavat), Etibar Mamedov (Azerbaijan National Independence Party), Ali Kerimli (Azerbaijan Popular Front Party [AHCP]-reformist wing), and Rasul Guliev (Democratic Party of Azerbaijan) -- failed to reach agreement during talks in London on 24 August on selecting a single opposition candidate to contest the 15 October presidential election. Kerimli stated earlier this month that he would withdraw his candidacy if agreement was reached on a single candidate, but later he said he was reluctant to do so as he believes most voters will vote for him. Gambar, Mamedov, and Kerimli are all registered to contest the ballot, from which Guliev was barred on the grounds that he is resident in the United States and holds U.
The leaders of Azerbaijan\'s four most influential opposition parties -- Isa Gambar (Musavat), Etibar Mamedov (Azerbaijan National Independence Party), Ali Kerimli (Azerbaijan Popular Front Party [AHCP]-reformist wing), and Rasul Guliev (Democratic Party of Azerbaijan) -- failed to reach agreement during talks in London on 24 August on selecting a single opposition candidate to contest the 15 October presidential election. Kerimli stated earlier this month that he would withdraw his candidacy if agreement was reached on a single candidate, but later he said he was reluctant to do so as he believes most voters will vote for him. Gambar, Mamedov, and Kerimli are all registered to contest the ballot, from which Guliev was barred on the grounds that he is resident in the United States and holds U.S. permanent residency. The four leaders did, however, agree to establish a movement for democratic stability, the primary objective of which to is replace the current stability which, the four say, is based on military and police repression with voluntary stability based on popular consensus. (Turan)