POLITICS
DEMOCRACY WINS IN AZERBAIJAN
Presidential elections took place in Azerbaijan. The election laws in Azerbaijan, which regained its independence 12 years ago was similar to those in the leading democratic countries of the Western Europe. It was difficult to do it for 10 years.
On the other hand, these elections draw the attention by the fact that the government tried to conduct elections in an organized manner. Representatives of the Azerbaijan Government conducted a large campaign on TV, newspapers, and posters in order to attract people to vote. At the elections, the wooden boxes were replaced by plastic ones made in Germany. Thus, Azerbaijani did not differ from the western Europeans.
Ilham Aliyev’s victory is Azerbaijan’s desire to move into the future on the way of democracy and stability. Azerbaijan realizing the democracy in accordance with the western mentality thought of its future and expressed his decision by electing in Ilham Aliyev’s person as the way forward to western civilization, pointed out by Heydar Aliyev. On behalf of the Marmara Group’s Vakf presided by me, I together with my colleagues Okan Sosial, Vagif Gasimov, Shamil Ayrimov and Zukhtu Hajioglu participated in the elections as observers. During the elections, I together with my three friends observed the course of elections in 44 polling stations in Sumgait, Baku and Absheron district. We interested whether there were any complaints filed from representatives of different parties. We did not see any complaints in polling stations. Okan Sosial went to three platforms situated in the Caspian Sea where he observed the voting process on the rigs “Chirag”, “Istiglal” and “Dede Gorgut”.
In the evening, while opening the ballot boxes we observed the calculation of votes in the polling stations. They calculated openly, transparently showing each ballot.
This election campaign in Azerbaijan, which was the part of Russia and never faced such a democratic act as elections, was an evidence of democratic tendencies and high culture of the people.
My heart was covered with blood with the fact that I saw the refugees from Shusha, Agdam, Fizuli voting at the stations. Poverty, hardships featured their faces but at the same time, they were noble, proud.
Yes, Ilham Aliyev will lead Azerbaijan into the future along this bright way opened by Heydar Aliyev who has been bringing Azerbaijan towards the western standards. The youth supported Ilham Aliyev ‘cause, most of those I met call him “Great Successor of Great Goals”
I wish good health to Aliyev senior and every success on the way of democracy, culture and development - to his son Aliyev.
I would like to mention that event organized against elections by rebels were masterminded from abroad and not so significant as it is said.”