U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE TAKES WITHDRAWAL OF PRESIDENT HEYDAR ALIYEV’S CANDIDACY AS AN INTERNAL MATTER FOR AZERBAIJAN

Richard Boucher, the US State Department spokesman described the decision of Azerbaijan President Heydar Aliyev to withdraw his candidacy from the upcoming elections as an “internal matter for Azerbaijan.”

Responding to the questions from journalists during a press-conference on October 3, he said: “the United States Government has worked closely with President Aliyev in the past. We have been a good friend of Azerbaijan. We look forward to free and fair presidential elections on October 15”.

Asked about the Washington reaction to the possible victory of Ilham Aliyev, and to the fact of father-son transfer of a candidacy, Richard Boucher said: “We don't pick their candidates. We look forward to free and fair elections. The voters of Azerbaijan should be allowed to decide who they want to vote for. We don't have any problems with the votes of Azerbaijan deciding who they want to vote for.”