“In the near future, certain steps will be taken in this direction when the reforms do not become a threat to the country due to the change in the geopolitical situation in the region”
Publika.az Presents to the readers the interview of the chairman of the Justice, Law, Democracy (AHD) Party, MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev:
– Mr. Gudrat, information was spread in the media that the President of Turkey received Özgür Ozer, the leader of the main opposition party CHP. Now it is said that he will visit Azerbaijan. If such a visit takes place, will it be accepted by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan?
– CHP is the main opposition party that won the local elections in Turkey. Also, democratic traditions have been formed in Turkey. Therefore, it should be taken as normal. Özgür Özer, after being elected as the chairman of the Patiya, refused to use harsh rhetoric against the government and declared that elections and political struggle should not divide the people. Erdogan, in turn, spoke about the need to soften relations. Özgür Özer revealed that CHP has given up its previous position against the Azerbaijani government. In this regard, if he comes to Baku, he will most likely be received by Ilham Aliyev, and if this happens, it will be the right decision. The chairmen of the opposition parties in the Russian parliament have also been accepted at the highest level. No matter how painful the different attitude towards the party leaders of other countries is for the thinking people of Azerbaijan, it is very important for interstate relations.
– Will the President of Turkey accept the chairman of the main opposition party of Azerbaijan?
– The main opposition within the system in Azerbaijan is represented by the VHP with 3 deputies (one of whom is not a member of that party), and the role of the parties (mixed with the YAP) in the country’s social and political life is very small. In our country, the bureaucratic apparatus itself has become a single political power, a “party”, and the political system is also represented by the bureaucratic apparatus. Therefore, it is not realistic that the leader of the main opposition party is accepted at a high level in Turkey. If high-ranking officials do not do this in our country, aside from the President – they do not even answer the phone – it is inappropriate to expect this from our brotherly country.
– Why is our situation like this and who is the main culprit?
– I wouldn’t say guilty, but I would give two main reasons. Firstly, the level of development and perseverance of the people, the ability to defend political values, the low level of political culture and the absence of democratic traditions do not allow the establishment of a strong political system with political competition. The second main reason is that the government does not feel the need for reforms.
– Is the opposition itself to blame for the situation?
– No, today’s opposition will not exist if the government does not want it.
– Do you think that the government will ever reform?
– I believe that this will definitely happen one day. They said that Ilham Aliyev would never release the lands from occupation, but I believed that this will definitely happen as soon as the first favorable geopolitical situation arises. Even now, I believe that in the near future, certain steps will be taken in this direction when reforms do not become a threat to the country due to the change in the geopolitical situation in the region. The government fears that the reforms will open the way to foreign interference and civil strife in the country.
– Is it not possible to expand economic freedoms without going to political reforms like in China?
– In China, unlike us, there is no formal multi-party system. There is strict censorship on the Internet. They think that economic freedoms will make political reforms inevitable. Therefore, unprofitable state enterprises are not privatized. No matter how many people work in state administrations, enterprises and organizations, medium-sized entrepreneurs become partners or go bankrupt, etc. Rushing will not fix things. As Elchibey said, everything needs time. A Turkish proverb says that everything changes – sometimes with one person, sometimes with time.
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