"Azadliq" newspaper 9.08.2008

"OPPOSITION IS READY TO FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY" Lala SHEVKET: "International organizations must show whether they respect their own values and principles or not"

- Prof. Shevket, how would you evaluate the situation after all the major opposition forces decided to boycott the forthcoming presidential election? - As you now, Azadliq Political Bloc has called upon the opposition to boycott the election earlier this year. We have defined the reasons of our decision to boycott the lection on numerous occasions. There is no need for repetition. In short, there are a lot of reasons ranging from the imprisonment of independent journalists to the reactionary amendments to the Election Code. Our boycott decision is a protest against the anti-democratic policy of the government. An election held under current conditions can never be democratic and fair. This will be a mere spectacle. To participate in it would mean legitimizing it. That is why we have decided to boycott the election. I am very glad that the other opposition forces have understood the meaninglessness of participating in such an election and refused to participate in this farce. Already the opposition's view towards the election is coming to a common ground. This is a very good sign. With this step we have shown our adherence to democratic principles. In addition to that, it has become very clear that the opposition is ready to fight for democracy. The authorities now are very worried. The rise in attacks against the opposition in the state-controlled media shows that the boycott has become a reason for government's anxiety. But the case is not ending here. We must continue our struggle by coming together. - You are speaking about the opposition coming together. In your opinion, under which conditions is cooperation possible? Is sharing common view of the election enough for that or not? - It is quite natural under this circumstance to consider cooperation. It is possible and important. Cooperation must be, however, based on a definite goal. Azerbaijani opposition must understand now that who is the first is not a major issue. A struggle for primacy should not be carried out now. Leaders of the opposition should not spend their time, efforts and energy for that. The major goal should be changing the present situation. We must carry out a struggle to change the situation. That should be our aim. Finally, we must understand that the primacy issue has always been a break on us. We have two-three leaders, who have always struggled for primacy. It is very important to close that issue. Azerbaijan has a lot of prominent personalities and intellectuals. They also should come together and we all united should lend our efforts to help our country out of this grave situation. I think we must cooperate specifically in this direction. - The opposition is boycotting the election. After that what is the major duty that falls upon the democratic camp? - Our major duty is to show adherence to democratic principles and inform the society, the nation about these principles, for the nation is the main actor. We must make the main actor to express its word. Unfortunately, our people display indifference to the violation of their rights. The people are holding a view that all the problems should be solved by the opposition leaders. So, we must explain to the people that without a movement on their part nothing could be achieved. The future of our country depends on every one of us. That is why our major duty is to bring the people into motion and mobilize them into defending their rights. - There are those that present the boycott decision as a sign of weakness. In their opinion the opposition is running away from a fight with this step. - This is a very superficial view, which comes from the ideologists of the ruling YAP party. If we are indeed weak, then why does the government limit means for our activity? Why doesn't it allow us even to rent offices? Why has the television been closed for us? Why doesn't it give us opportunity to hold meetings? If the government is strong and confident, it should give us an opportunity. But the government is not giving us any opportunity whatsoever. On the contrary, it limits our opportunities wherever it can. It does not give a passport to an opposition leader. It deprives us of our offices. Just imagine that we being the Liberal Party cannot hold our party conference, because no one rents us an office or even a conference room. There is a definite ban. If we are weak, then why is the government so afraid of us? - In Russia the opposition has also boycotted the last election. At that time OSCE specifically in a response to this decision by the opposition has expressed advance doubts over the results of the election and chosen not to send their observers to Russia. Do you expect the same attitude in Azerbaijan? - I do, although may be not now. International organizations will undoubtedly express their opinion after the election. I believe the reaction would be quite harsh, for how can the international organizations consider an unopposed election to be democratic? As for Russia, the same attention as to our northern neighbour cannot be awarded to such a small country as Azerbaijan. We must understand that. Russia is a very big country, and that is why there were sanctions and firm reaction. But anyway I expect a principled attitude of the international community towards Azerbaijan. International organizations must show whether they respect their own values and principles or not. The international community must understand that dictatorship is a malady. This malady has already taken over Azerbaijan. Therefore Azerbaijan should be promptly treated. Otherwise, later it would be very difficult to fight it. We have witnessed that in Iraq, Pakistan and Myanmar. In Azerbaijan there is a purposeful policy of the ruling regime to exclude the people from the political process. The international organisations must pay close attention to what is happening in Azerbaijan. They must show firm reaction. I would like to stress one very important matter. There has recently been a poll among the youth. The results of this poll showed that a little over 50 per cent of Azerbaijani young people support the idea that shariah should become the basis of Azerbaijani legal system. That is those young people want Azerbaijan to become a religious state. Only 17 per cent of the questioned expressed their support for democracy. This is a very serious business and the international organisations must think about it. - In your opinion, would the supporters of Azerbaijani government in the international world be able to call the forthcoming "election" farce another step towards democracy again? - It will be very difficult for them to do so this time. Opposition's boycott decision has made it very difficult for the lobbyists, for this election will be unopposed. Ilham Aliyev is left without opposing contenders. Therefore it will be very difficult for the supporters of this regime in the international world. It must also be mentioned that this forces have always played a role an intermediary between the government and the opposition, and they have always tried to direct the opposition along a hopeless route. Naturally the opposition has not agreed to that. By the way, there is a view among the public that Azerbaijani opposition acts in accordance with the wishes of the foreign powers. This is definitely not so. Personally as the leader of Azerbaijan Liberal Party I can say the I have never acted in accordance with the wishes of the foreign powers or international organisations. - Situation in Georgia is at the centre of world's attention. In your opinion, will there be any effect of these development on Azerbaijan? - It is quite true that the main world event today is not the opening of the Beijing Olympiad but the events in Georgia. This is a very significant event for us and the whole South Caucasus. 10-15 days ago there has been a provocation in South Ossetia. Three days after that the women and children started to be evacuated from there. There was a sense that Russia was preparing something. The results are evident. Already the Russian troops have occupied Tskhinvali. Georgia, which just wanted to restore the constitutional order in its own sovereign territory, is now subjected to an act of aggression. This conflict may clearly lead to a full-scale Russo-Georgian war. Naturally, being a small country Georgia will not be able to resist this. This war cannot pass without effect on Azerbaijan and the region as a whole. I think these developments can lead to increased intrigues and painful consequences for Azerbaijan and the region. - Mikhail Saakashvil has not gone to Beijing, but as a commander-in-chief fights separatism. Azerbaijan is in a similar situation, but … - Yes, it is true that Azerbaijan is in a similar situation, but Azerbaijani leadership lacks similar character and similar strength of will. Our government thinks only about how to implement the plans for creating a neo-monarchy and how to misappropriate the oil revenues. Our government does not think about national interests. It has interests of its own. I would like to stress one point. When the last events have been discussed at the UN Security Council meeting all the member-states present practically spoke against Russia. That is Russia has been left virtually alone in this matter. An why is that? Because, Georgia alongside fighting for restoring its constitutional order, has directed itself on the road of democratisation. The international community is giving support to Georgia only because it is a democratic nation, adherent to democratic values and principles. If Azerbaijan also starts the process of democratisation, then the international community will support our position in the Qarabagh conflict. The government understands that very well, but unfortunately it does not think about national interests at all.

Vidadi