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Wednesday, 29 October 2003
FORMER AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT\'S PARTY DENIES COOPERATING WITH AUTHORITIES
By empty (10/29/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
In a statement released on 29 October, the Social-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, one of the co-chairmen of which is exiled former President Ayaz Mutalibov, denied that the party has either established contact or embarked on cooperation with the ruling authorities. Mutalibov was quoted on 24 October by Interfax as criticizing both the opposition activists who participated in the violent clashes with police on 16 October and the authorities\' harsh reaction to that unrest. Mutalibov expressed the hope that \"a balance can be restored between the authorities and the opposition,\" and that President-elect Aliyev will espouse a more flexible policy and demonstrate \"political vision.
In a statement released on 29 October, the Social-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, one of the co-chairmen of which is exiled former President Ayaz Mutalibov, denied that the party has either established contact or embarked on cooperation with the ruling authorities. Mutalibov was quoted on 24 October by Interfax as criticizing both the opposition activists who participated in the violent clashes with police on 16 October and the authorities\' harsh reaction to that unrest. Mutalibov expressed the hope that \"a balance can be restored between the authorities and the opposition,\" and that President-elect Aliyev will espouse a more flexible policy and demonstrate \"political vision.\" (Turan)