Text of report by Azerbaijani newspaper 'Millat' on 24th August
entitled "Statement of presidential candidates of the
Azerbaijani Republic"

Although [former] presidential candidates, various
political parties and international organizations have issued
statements on the presidential elections in the Azerbaijani
Republic on 11th October 1998 which were rigged, held in
conditions of mass violations of laws and total falsifications
and 27 political parties signed a protocol declaring the
current authorities illegitimate, proving it by documents, up
until recently officials either denied the accusations as
groundless or preferred to keep silent.

Recently the chairman of the Central Electoral Commission
[CEC], Jafar Valiyev, speaking on ANS TV, acknowledged this
fact, saying that "the total rigging in the Azerbaijani
presidential elections was 12-15 per cent". This can be seen as
confirmation also by the CEC of [Azerbaijani President] Heydar
Aliyev's illegitimacy.

We, the presidential hopefuls of the Azerbaijani Republic,
resolutely demand the dismissal of the chairman of the CEC,
Jafar Valiyev, the institution of criminal proceedings against
him and the holding of fresh presidential elections by
invalidating the results of the 11th October 1998 elections.
The [former] presidential candidates of the Azerbaijani
Republic, Etibar Mammadov, Nizami Suleymanov, Ashraf Mehdiyev.

Source: 'Millat', Baku, in Azeri 24 Aug 99 p1
BBC Mon TCU 240899 sh/fm