Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Bilik Dunyasi
A routine sitting of the Socialist Azerbaijan Bloc has been
held at the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party of Aze
the Socialist Azerbaijan Bloc, pointed out on the issue of
municipal elections and preparation for them that the political
parties in the bloc had taken an official decision to stand in
these elections. Afterwards, the participants in the sitting
thrashed out the issue of a street demonstration. The Baku city
executive authorities have denied the bloc permission to hold
it three times.

Ahmadoglu pointed out that he had again turned to the
Mayor's Office in this connection, but this time he did not
indicate the venue of this demonstration. The member of the
SDPA bureau explained this by the fact that the Baku Mayor's
Office had given its denial on the grounds of the possibility
of subversive activities during street demonstrations. For this
reason, the bloc has granted the executive authorities the
right to choose a venue for the mass action, where security
would be ensured for the participants.

We should note that this time the bloc has once more the
intention of protesting against unemployment in the country.
The date of the street demonstration has been set for 22nd
August. Ahmadoglu pointed out that in the event of the Baku
Mayor's Office denying permission again, the bloc will have to
appeal to the Supreme Court of the Azerbaijani Republic, as the
executive authorities are violating civic rights in doing so.
Source: Bilik Dunyasi, Baku, in Russian 1550 gmt 17 Aug 99
BBC Mon TCU 180899 sh/ek