Opposition News

Peter Burkhard meets with leaders of CCO parties
At a meeting on Monday with chairmen of political parties represented in the Coordinating Center of the Opposition (CCO), head of the OSCE Baku office, Peter Burkhard, said he was keen to bring the Electoral Code into conformity with international standards and consider suggestions from opposition political parties while preparing the document. He suggested that an opposition representative should attend discussions of the Electoral Code in Strasbourg, Belgium, on February 13-14, alongside experts from the OSCE Human Rights and Democratic Institutions  Office and Azerbaijani Presidential Administration official Sahin Aliyev. In addition, Burkhard offered to hold a meeting of representatives of political parties included in the Coordinating Center of the Opposition and  the ruling New Azerbaijan Party. During the discussions, it was noted that Burkhard's sugestions could be accepted,  on  condition that the opposition should not be considered for attendance at the roundtable conference. The Coordinating Center emphasized its insistence on setting up a joint working group involving an authorized representative of the president.

Rally-march due on the eve of Xocali massacre
The United Rally Committee (URC) disclosed on Friday the route and time of a rally to be held on February 22 on the eve of the 11th anniversary of the Xocali massacre perpetrated by Armenians backed by Russian troops on February 26, 1992. The march will last from 1500 till 1700, starting at 20 January metro station and finishing at the Qalaba cinema. 
The rally will be conducted under prepared slogans such as Liberation for Qarabag, End concession policy, Punish Armenian perpetrators, Away with international organizations who fail to condemn Xocali genocide.  On the eve of the Xocali massacre anniversary, undertakings and protest actions are to be organized across the world, including Germany, USA, Norway, France, Iran, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, Russian, and etc.

Trade unions may not participate in political actions, opposition leader says
At its meeting on Monday, the opposition Democratic Congress debated a decision adopted at the congress of Trade Unions Confederation to forward Heydar Aliyev's candidacy for the upcoming presidential elections. Chairman of the Democratic Congress Isa Qambar told journalists that the meeting had described the decision as absurd. He indicated the figure claiming the trade unions include 1.5m members had been overestimated as much as two or three times. Isa Qambar said that trade unions were not entitled to participate in political actions or to forward candidacy under Azerbaijani legislation. Noting that the Democratic Congress considered the confederation's step as starting the election campaign ahead of time, he added that legislation stipulates that election campaign not begin prematurely.

Isa Qambar re-elected as DC chairman
Head of the Musavat Party Isa Qambar was elected as chairman of the Democratic Congress (DC) by an open vote on Monday, while chairman of the People's Front Party (classic) Mirmahmud Fattayev took the post of the DC assembly chairman.  The DC, which includes several parties, holds elections annually. Previously, heads of member-parties chaired the Democratic Congress on rotation. Under the DC current regulations, its heads are elected.