ALL CONDITIONS FOR DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS WERE CREATED IN AZERBAIJAN
Further, he answered the questions of journalists.
Q: Mr. Mehtiyev, how do you appraise propaganda and agitation campaign of Ilham Aliyev?
A: I highly appraise it. I believe that all kind of modern election technologies have been used by him. You can see from TV and press interviews, that pre-election campaign is being held at high level. The main thing is that people like Ilham Aliyev sincerely, and trust him. Therefore, it is seen during the meeting of Ilham Aliyev with voters.
Q: Mr. Mehtiyev, you have done a few statements that the authorities go to these elections by a single team. However, opposition is trying and even states as if there were contradictions and interference of interests among the authorities. How can you comment these statements?
A: The opposition has been trying for many years to put forward an idea, show it as contradictions within the authorities and to build up its agitation round this issue. It is just another try. In fact, there are no contradictions among the authorities. It is really a single team, Heydar Aliyev’s team. This team is currently uniting round Ilham Aliyev and has realized the electoral campaign. We believe that these elections will be the most democratic and high-leveled in the history of Azerbaijan. I think it will go on like this. We will show to international community and our society that fair, democratic, transparent elections will be held in Azerbaijan.
Q: Mr. Mehtiyev, you called the opposition to carry out civilized electoral struggle. Do you believe that opposition will follow your appeal?
A: Yes, I have made this appeal and I believe that it is necessary for our future, for world image of Azerbaijan. Democratic condition envisaged by the law has been created for the opposition. They just should use these opportunities. Unfortunately, opposition does not follow it. In majority of cases, they try to provoke law enforcement and governmental organs or take provocative actions themselves. However, development of the situation shows that they cannot reach their aims.
We have created necessary conditions for them and would like that they held meeting democratically in special places, which they would not take the way of provocations and oppositions. Unfortunately, such provocations took place - on Sunday in Alibayramli, on the same day - in Shaki. However, we have made a clear assignment that law enforcement organs should not yield to these provocations, guard law and order within the limits of their responsibilities.
Q: Are there expected any provocations on behalf of the opposition on the day of elections?
A: Anyway, we see from the press, that radical opposition expresses its will to perform such actions. If we read their press, we see the calls to provocations in every issue, on each page of their newspapers. Today, I was informed that there are appeals to protest in the newspapers of Musavat and Hurriyyet. Of course, it will be a failure. The nation is different today from what it was in 1992-1993.The world is not the same as it was in 1992-93. People clearly distinguish good and bad. The whole nation is on guard of stability and it is interested in this stability in Azerbaijan. No one wishes opposition in the society. That is why people would not follow these appeals of radical opposition. From the other hand, the state is powerful; it strengthens and is able to defend itself. Our state would never allow that someone creates unrest, skirmishes neither on October 15 no on 16 or any other day.
Q: Mr. Mehtiyev, when do you expect President Heydar Aliyev’s return to the country?
A: This issue fully depends on doctors. When they give their permission, Mr. President will come back to Azerbaijan. I have no doubts that people of Azerbaijan will greet Heydar Aliyev in October.
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