Memorandum
On
the Presidential Elections 2013
Participation of the Public Chamber (PC) in the
Presidential Elections 2013 is widely discussed both in the mass-media and
social networks. Guided by the democratic values and principles forming PC’s
mission and activity is based on, PC considers public debates on issues which
are important for the society to be essential and takes into consideration
opinions stated during these debates to form its policy.
At the same time it is observed that due to the
lack of information on PC’s tactics on Presidential Elections of 2013, some
incorrect opinions and views are stated by the parties taking part in these
debates. In turn it causes logical questions and indefiniteness both inside and
outside of PC. In some cases opponents and antagonists of PC and democratic
camp in general are eager to take advantage of these uncertainties in order to
artificially deepen and exaggerate them.
Taking into account the above-mentioned public
interest in these questions Coordinating Council of the PC considers it
appropriate to disclose following related to the topic:
1. Large public
interest in the issue of participation of the PC in the 2013 presidential
elections is an indicator and example of the influence and role of PC in
socio-political process going in Azerbaijan, along with a proof of PC being
accepted as the main core of resistance to authoritarianism, the most organized
center of power of democratic community, the main political alternative to the
existing authorities. No near-term issue of importance, including the
Presidential Elections of 2003 will be concluded without the participation of
the PC and PC’s position will be taken into consideration.
2. It should be noted that PC is not an
electoral bloc and is not created for the electoral campaign. PC is an
organizational model for the alliance of the democratic powers of Azerbaijan
(political opposition, free media, civil society representatives, progressive
intelligentsia, and leaders of the youth movement) and should be considered as
a Civil Movement with a main purpose to gain fundamental democratic changes and
to change the regime. Taking all this into account, it is incorrect and
baseless to think or state that PC was formed to make tactical decisions for
the upcoming Presidential Elections, to decide the candidate or to support this
decided candidate. Members of the PC, majority of the organizations in the PC,
including leading oppositional parties- PFPA and Musavat believe that PC should
continue its activity until the significant democratic changes are made and the
regime is changed. All aforementioned consider that partnership within the PC
should be a priority.
3. It should be noted that the main political
target of the PC is to achieve the conduction of the extraordinary
Parliamentary Elections prior to the Presidential Elections and it remains as such.
PC considers the chance that dynamics of the geopolitical processes and the
social-political situation will cause significant changes in the country prior
to the Presidential Elections 2013 to be very high and builds its activity in
general and in regard to the upcoming Elections taking this into consideration.
PC considers it appropriate to form and state its final position prior to the
Elections in order to take all changes happened during that period into
consideration and make necessary corrections to its position.
4. PC considers Presidential Elections of 2013
to be the most important element of the political process in the country and PC
is building its strategy based upon this assumption. PC regards Presidential
Elections of 2013 to be one of the most favorable opportunities for the society
to bring Azerbaijan from autocracy to democracy and thinks that this
opportunity should be used to its fullest potential. Formation of the democratic
election environment, realization of political, legal and social reforms which
PC promoted in its Roadmap to the Democracy plan will play a decisive role in
the democratization of the country.
5. Prior to this memorandum, PC has already
made a statement on the 2013 elections and wants to bring it to the attention. During
the public debate on the name of the single candidate of the PC for the
upcoming 2013 Presidential Elections, PC stated that it is not on the agenda
and that this question is not being discussed. It was stated that PC considers
wide alliance of the democratic powers to be useful and desirable for the upcoming
Presidential Elections.
These statements are once again approved and PC
regards that observations both within and outside of the PC- in the public
opinion Chairman of Musavat Isa Gambar and Chairman of the Popular Front Party
of Azerbaijan Ali Karimli are considered to be candidates of the democratic
circles. But the idea that there can be a third candidate should not be
neglected.
6. At this stage PC considers any statements
and decisions to participate in the elections by members of PC to be natural
and does not consider such moves to be contrary to the interests of the PC. At
this stage PC respects all such statements and decisions and considers it
acceptable and regards all who decided to be candidates to be “candidates to
the candidacy”. PC will continue to evaluate all these issues with other
democratic powers, most especially with the Forum of the Intellectuals until
the reasonable time prior to the election.
Taking all of the abovementioned into
consideration PC states that improvements to the Elections Code, formation of
the democratic election environment and formation of the big coalition of the
democratic powers in order to undertake these changes is its priority at the
current time. PC considers necessary the completion of the election strategy
and elections platform for the upcoming elections.
PC will continue to inform the public on the
its position and decisions regarding the Presidential Elections 2013 in the
regular fashion.
September 5, 2012
