Azerbaijani parliamentary election campaign reaching climax

Azerbaijan is actively preparing for the next parliamentary elections scheduled for November 7 after (last one held in November, 2005). According to the Electoral Commission Chairman, Mazahir Panahov, 210 candidates for deputies had registered by October 1. Altogether 1,322 candidates have applied to the local electoral committees to fight for seats in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, of which 1,266 received  petitions from the CEC, and 399 have already completed them and submitted to the CEC. At today's meeting CEC approved the text, form, amount and rules for the preparation of ballots. The CEC has registered 590 local observers for the elections.

The leader of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Ali Kerimli is trying to secure himself with Western support in exchange for supporting their interests in case of coming to power. He also pledged that if he came to power, "Azerbaijan will go to any concessions on the Karabakh conflict settlement."