Igbal Aghazade: "Our country will face great difficulties"

- Are you satisfied with the second place during the presidential elections?

- The process of elections was more important for me that the resulting second place in the presidential elections. I was quite satisfied with it. Our resources at this stage were not sufficient for victory in the presidential elections by both objective and subjective reasons. We were able to execute and attain everything that opposition parties can execute and attain in the current realities in Azerbaijan. Therefore, I can say that our assessment of the results of presidential elections sound as "satisfactory".

- How will the Umid party further act?

- Last Saturday the Umid party started preparations for the next municipal elections in Azerbaijan. Frankly speaking, the current state of Azerbaijani opposition does not breed optimism. Therefore, the process of its preparation for municipal elections seem too huge. In order to reduce the coming difficulties to minimum and attain greater success during these elections, we are planning to undertake a number of serious steps.

By results of municipal elections we will be able to correct our preparations for 2010 parliamentary elections. If we do not manage to attain desired goals at the upcoming municipal elections, we will be unable to get the desired result at the upcoming parliamentary elections.

- How do you see the next 5 years in Azerbaijan?

- I do not expect anything positive for Azerbaijan with the current internal policy.

We are also not satisfied with the country economic regulation. In particular, the state budget retained excessive dependence from the oil dollars. Such a quo status raises special concerns on the background of deepening world financial crisis and sharp decline in world oil prices.

It should be reminded that the budget fixes the cost of an oil barrel at $80, which does not meet the existing realities, considering the current oil prices.

The geopolitical situation in the world notably shows that with the rise in revenues from the sale of oil by exporter countries their political claims and ambitions are also rising. I think in the near future we will become witnesses that the United States attempt to calm these countries down by means of its internal reserves.

Naturally, this step will be targeting not only Azerbaijan, but our country will face great difficulties. In particular, most projects will freeze, the purchasing capacity of the population drop, the repayment of salary, to be demolished by galloping inflation, will be delayed.

Thus, I see the future of Azerbaijan so pessimistically and, unfortunately, having all chances to come true.

/Day.Az/