Tahir Kerimli: "Eldar Namazov even does not have a party"

- Today most former radical opposition parties have decided to support Ilham Aliyev's candidacy at the presidential elections. How can it be explained?

- Our party also decided to support Ilham Aliyev's candidacy at the session of the political council. The session of the Supreme Medjlis to register this decision must be held in August. After it we will submit due documents to the Central Election Commission.

Currently all necessary measures are taken due to the decision to support the working president.

If a single center to unite parties, intending to support the working President of the country, is created, we are ready to join the coalition.

- What's your attitude towards former oppositional colleagues, who have chosen the tactics of boycotting presidential elections?

- The said method has never been justified in Azerbaijan. In 2000 23 parties also decided to boycott the elections, but this decision was only adhered by the Social-Democratic Party, our party and some others. Since that time we have had a negative attitude to the said form of protest, as leaders of the opposition parties do not fulfill their words till the end.

Moreover, the current boycott can only be understood by opposition leaders, for those parties, which take part or boycott elections, understand that they have no chance for elections. The said method is effective only when all voters join the boycott.

- If we draw parallels between boycotts of opposition through the past ten years we will see that opposition is boycotting elections in turn. How can you explain this?

- Each opposition party has a weight at some definite stage. For example in 1995 it was the Azerbaijan National Independence Party, in 2000 Azerbaijan's Popular Front Party, in 2005 Musavat party. Each of these structure had the majority oppositional seats in the parliament in any period and joining activity of Milli Medjlis, attached legitimacy to it.

By getting majority of seats in the parliament, the party rejected the boycott tactics and joined any voting processes with great pleasure. If these parties, speaking of boycott today, were presented seats in the parliament in 2005, they would have kept silent.

On this basis, it is possible to say that boycott of elections is not the demonstration of the opinion of all party members, but is of corporate nature.

- Various politicians voice the version that the Azadlyg bloc has chosen the boycott tactics as it intends to commit provocation before presidential elections. Will the parties joining the bloc have enough power for it?

- Azerbaijani opposition failed following presidential elections of 2003 and parliamentary elections of 2005. Opposition has no social basis for committing any provocations or any other actions. I admit that the country has protest electorate, yet if these people are not satisfied with powers, it does not mean that people will support opposition.

Opposition leaders have already demonstrated themselves in 2003 and 2005 and people do not perceive them as a power, ready to help them.

If people have some problems, they primarily hope for president and appeal to him. For example, if we analyze the cases, we will reveal that all claims are send to President. People are aware that opposition has no power to oppose the authorities.

Moreover, the socioeconomic welfare is important for people. It is not fashionable now to engage in the politics. This can be proven by the fact of political activity in 2000 and 2003 and today.

Considering it, our party has chosen a constructive method, therefore, we intend to help our president overcome existing problems in the country. It is necessary to approach constructively to ongoing events.

- What is the reason of opposition's weakness, in your opinion?

- There is a parable: "shepherd is shouting that his house is burnt! Everyone is rushing to help him, but they see that he is lying. When shepherd's house was really on fire, no one believed him". The same with out opposition. It always states that it will win the elections, calling to vote for it, chanting "We are your future, vote for us!", "follow our principles!", but when the case refers to results of presidential elections, everyone disappears and there is no one on the horizon.

Today opposition has lost its support, some became neutral, others took the side of the authorities.

- If opposition leaders have no support, why do they join presidential elections: for show, for getting some dividends or what...

- Perhaps, opposition gets some dividends, but their participation in the elections also imply that they will be in the focus of attention, they will be spoken of and they will conduct campaigns against each others. But they understand that they will not be able to win the elections.

- They say that opposition is financed by the West. Is it true?

- Some time ago it was sponsored inside the country, they got money from foreign foundations, yet this process has stopped. Azerbaijani opposition leaders do not get money from businessmen and they are not sponsored by foreign foundations, as businessmen understood that opposition is not a real power which could win the elections and foreign countries are aware that opposition has no social basis for them to count on it.

Moreover, voters are also aware that working President Ilham Aliyev is the most worthy candidate for president.

Today, foreign foundations try to focus on the observation of norms of democratic principles. The recent proof was that the United States allocated $3 mln for conduction of democratic elections.

The opposition is short of money.

- Could you again return to opposition?

- I do not like to change my decision. When I was an oppositioner, I tried not to come close to powers representatives and even do not want to say hello to them. I did not want someone to tell me one day that I had any contacts with powers. However, after I decided to approach the events constructively, nothing bounds me to opposition anymore. Naturally, I am often blamed for treason and this does not bring dividends to me, but this decision was taken considering the situation in the country.

I understood that I will not be able to lead people independently and opposition is too weak to count on it.

- What do you think about the new opposition candidate Eldar Namazov?

- Any opposition leader has his structure, a party which can provide any, even small support to the candidate, while Eldar Namazov does not have a party.

Notably, Eldat Namazov started to speak against the government after he was dismissed. It would be better to present his demands to powers while he was occupying the position.

I do not think he will be able to oppose anyone.

- What would you recommnd to oppositioners, willing to participate in the upcoming presidential elections?

- People need opposition in any democratic society. First, it reflects interests of the people and second, it is a flagman of democratic reforms. However, if opposition gives up in the end, it can not be trusted. It is inadmissible for opposition to adhere to one ideology in the morning and another at night.

/Day.Az/