Azerbaijani authorities will cooperate with opposition, taking part in presidential elections

Azerbaijani authorities will cooperate with those opposition parties, which have taken part in the presidential elections, held in the country, said chief of the public policy department of the presidential administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

"If opposition parties want to exist as a political power and want their opinion to be taken into account both by Azerbaijani society and institutional organization, they must take part in the elections, held in the country", noted Ali Hasanov.

Otherwise, their "place will be occupied by other opposition parties", according to the chief of department.

Hasanov added that the powers of the country will also cooperate with those opposition parties, which take part in the elections held.

As for the non-participation of a part of opposition in the elections, Hasanov noted that it is not the fault of the Azerbaijani government, "it is their own fault".

"From the very beginning, the opposition has rejected participation in the elections, as it knew it would be defeated", said the chief of department.

Hasanov does not agree with a statement about the weakness of Ilham Aliyev's opponents during elections.

"If a candidate gains over 100,000 votes, it is a serious opponent. The reality is that Ilham Aliyev was the strongest candidate and he gained an overwhelming victory", concluded Hasanov.