BAKU: Opposition leader holds news conference on visit to USA

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 9 2004

Opposition leader holds news conference on visit to USA

Baku, August 9, AssA-Irada
Ali Karimli, chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan
(PFPA-reformers), told a Monday news conference that he attended the
International Forum of Leaders held in the United States on July
24-29.
Karimli said that during the visit he met with former US President
Bill Clinton, former secretary of state Madeleine Albright and top
officials of Bush’s administration. He noted that non-provision of
the Azerbaijani citizens with the freedom of free assembly, the
Garabagh conflict as well as upcoming municipal and parliamentary
elections were discussed during the meetings.
Touching upon the forthcoming US presidential elections, Karimli
explained the pro-Armenian position of John Kerry nominated by the
Democrats Party with the fact that he has been elected a Senator from
the state of Massachusetts and that Armenians make up the majority of
population in this state.
The PFPA chairman said that the goal of the Forum was to make public
the foreign policy concept of Democrats Party’s candidate for the US
presidency.*