Text of report by Azerbaijani TV station ANS on 12th December

[Presenter in studio] Abulfaz Elchibey, chairman of the People's Front of
Azerbaijan Party [PFAP], has turned out to vote in polling station 87 in
Binagadi district [Baku]. Leyla Osmanova has a report.

[Correspondent, over video of Elchibey at a polling station] Abulfaz
Elchibey, chairman of the PFAP, says he believes that the municipal
elections will proceed under democratic conditions.

[Elchibey] I believe in the polling stations here because there are
representatives from all parties there, i.e. it is impossible to falsify
the elections there. From this point of view, it is good. I believe that
about 30 per cent of our voters will turn out to vote in polling stations.
And it is impossible to falsify the elections here.

[Correspondent] Abulfaz Elchibey regards the participation of citizens in
the elections as every person's duty before his conscience.

[Elchibey] We must learn how to elect sooner or later. The people must
participate in elections. Let them come and not vote. But the people must
be active in elections, because it is impossible to create a democratic
society without elections. If our ideal is to create a democratic society,
we must definitely go through elections. People have a duty before their
conscience. Everyone can come and fulfil their duty before their
conscience. The falsifier falsifies his own conscience. If you vote for
justice, vote for justice. Everyone is responsible before their conscience
today and tomorrow, and before the future, their future children and the
generations to come. I have not carried out any baseness or falsification
with regard to the generations to come. I just voted for someone I know.
That is it. It is certainly necessary.

[Correspondent] The PFAP chairman say he will vote for a representative of
his own party.

[Elchibey] Sometimes, I tell our young people the following. Imagine that
you are playing football with Brasil and we say that we are going to lose
anyway. Is that right? But it does not mean that we should not play. Let us
go and play. It is football. We shall learn. It is a good thing. If there
is no future without it, why should we not learn it? That is why even if it
is difficult, you will lose only half an hour or one hour here. Just come,
see and vote. The rest is left to their conscience and God. But we must
definitely take part in it.

Source: ANS TV, Baku, in Azeri 1100 gmt 12 Dec 99
BBC Mon TCU 121299/** km/ek