Russia to closely monitor Azerbaijani presidential campaign

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, head of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party, will run for new terms of office in 2013, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of Yeni Azerbaijan Ali Ahmedov said.

Ali Hasanov, head of the socio-political section of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration and member of the ruling party, says that there is no alternative to Aliyev in the party.

Alexey Vlasov, Editor-in-Chief of Vestnik Kavkaza and Deputy Dean of the Historic Subdepartment of the Moscow State University of Lomonosov, believes that the presidential campaign in Azerbaijan has already started.

The expert says that Aliyev associated with stability and economic growth in the Azerbaijani society. His chances of being reelected for the third term of office are high. The president will most likely stress on social modernization and reduction of poverty, Vlasov goes on.

The Nagorno-Karabakh peace process is becoming one of the central topics of Ilham Aliyev’s speeches. The trend would most likely remain in 2013, the analyst supposes.

Russia is interested in stability and success of Azerbaijan and development of bilateral ties. Moscow will have close monitoring of the electoral campaign of 2013. The choice is up to the people of Azerbaijan, Vlasov says.

President Ilham Aliyev was elected in 2003 and 2008. The constitution was adjusted in 2009 by a referendum to allow a president to be reelected as many times as possible.