On the first session of new National Parliament the speaker and his deputies were elected. The president Ilham Aliyev, who spoke at the first session, called the election of the new parliament an important step in the “democratic development of the country” and positively assessed the activities of the previous parliament. (07-DEC-2005)
51-year-old Oktay Asadov, a member of Yeni Azerbaijan party’s Political Council, became the new speaker of the Parliament. He was nominated by the former speaker of the Parliament Murtuz Aleskerov and won with 105 votes against one.
The following deputies were elected as heads of commissions:
Eldar Ibragimov – Agrarian Policy
Ziyafat Askerov – Security and Military Policy
Samed Seidov – International and Parliamentary Relationships
Shamsaddin Hajiyev – Education and Science
Ziyad Samedzade – Economic Policy
Rabiyat Aslanova – Human Rights
Arif Ragimzade – Regional Problems
Among the aforementioned deputies, only Shamsaddin Hajiyev, Ziyad Samedzade and Valeh Aleskerov were newly elected to parliament
“Elections were Democratic” Ilham Aliyev stated
President Ilham Aliyev spoke at the first session, called the election of the new parliament an important step in the “democratic development of the country” and positively assessed the activities of the previous parliament. Aliyev stated that the parliamentary elections were democratic and transparent; election results were annulled in 10 districts because of some irregularities. Meanwhile, “worthy people who love their country have been elected to the new Milli Mejlis”, said Aliyev.
Aliyev also noted that the world community showed a great interest in the elections, because of Azerbaijan’s geopolitical location and its growing international importance. “We study all critical statements and take them into account, if they are objective. But if criticism is not objective, we reject it,” said the president. Then he addressed a statement to unnamed outside forces that continue to attempt “to form a negative atmosphere” around Azerbaijan to exert pressure on it. “We welcome equal cooperation and are opposed to turning Azerbaijan into the scene of resistance,” he stated.
Commenting on negative assessments of the elections in foreign media, Ilham Aliyev ironically said that foreign correspondents were looking for an Orange Revolution, but could not find it here. “Let them go back to their motherland to seek revolution there,” he stated, delighting parliamentarians.
With regard to the opposition, president said that “there is no place in politics for those led to the country to poverty and civil war.” Strong opposition is needed for revolution, but the Azerbaijani opposition is weak, he noted. Then he again mentioned that some outside forces wanted “to aggravate the situation in the country to bring their plans to life.” peaking about foreign political priorities, Ilham Aliyev said the government plans to further develop relationships with all its neighbors, integrate into Euro-Atlantic organizations, and strengthen these relations with the OSCE, the European Union and the Council of Europe. “This organization is comprised not only of reporters on Azerbaijan,” a phrase which pleased the deputies. He also added that relationships must be also developed with the Islamic Conference Organization, the CIS and GUAM.
