Azernews.Az

After Azerbaijan's ruling party YAP announced its chairman, President Ilham Aliyev, as its candidate for the 2013 presidential election, one can say with confidence that the electoral campaign has been launched in Azerbaijan, a Russian analyst says.

"Azerbaijani society perceives the candidacy of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as the source of stability and economic growth," editor-in-chief of Bulletin of the Caucasus news agency Alexei Vlasov told Trend news agency in an e-mail. "Of course, the chances of his re-election to a third term are great."

Vlasov, who heads Moscow State University's history department, said one can assume that the Azerbaijani president's rhetoric will focus on social modernization and further reduction of poverty.

"Besides the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Ilham Aliyev mainly mentions these problems in his statements," he said. "This trend is likely to continue in 2013."

The analyst said further that Russia is interested in a stable and successful Azerbaijan and in the development of friendly and mutually beneficial bilateral relations.

"Therefore, Moscow will attentively observe the election campaign in 2013," he said. "Of course, the Azerbaijani people will make their choice."

Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party (YAP) deputy chairman Ali Ahmadov told media early last week that the candidacy of the chairman of the party, President Ilham Aliyev, is supported not only by all members of the party, but by most people. Ahmadov also said Azerbaijan's dynamic economic development during Aliyev's presidency and a successful foreign policy are the basis for this choice.

YAP will hold a congress to formally nominate its candidate on the eve of the elections, which will be held in fall 2013.