Iranian presidential hopefuls vying for Azerbaijani votes
As the election approached, Iranian presidential
hopefuls are working to rally support of the country`s large
Azerbaijani minority.
One of the conservative candidates, Mohsen Rezai, while campaigning in Tabriz, a city densely populated by Azerbaijanis, mentioned the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijan`s Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh region.
Turkey`s NTV channel quoted Rezai as saying that, if Iran had been more involved in its foreign policy and properly played its role in the volatile region about 20 years ago, part of Azerbaijani territory could not have been invaded.
Rezai thereby called on Tehran to pursue an appropriate foreign political course. "Iran`s foreign policy should be influential enough in the region and among the neighboring countries for us not to witness stand-off and wars," noted Rezai.
Iran is home to about 30 million Azerbaijanis, or about 40% of the country`s population of 70 million, which is predominantly Persian.
The presidential election will be held in Iran on Friday. Four hopefuls are running for presidency, including the incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and reformist Mehdi Karroubi. The fourth candidate in the race is Mir-Hossein Mousavi, an ethnic Azerbaijani who was formerly the prime minister.
Mousavi appears to have gained support in recent weeks among younger voters and city dwellers who use the Internet to mobilize rallies. Ahmadinejad is popular among rural voters and has the backing of the Basij religious paramilitary group with millions of members.
An opinion poll published Monday by two U.S.-based research institutes showed 34-percent of Iranian respondents backed Ahmadinejad, while 14 percent picked Mousavi and 27 percent were undecided.
President Ahmadinejad is trying to win over Azerbaijani voters, as well. He recently told voters in Tabriz that, while working in Ardebil, another Azerbaijani-populated town, he had learned their native language, which is "one of the most beautiful and flawless tongues in the world."
Azerbaijanis living in Iran have, for many years, been unable to exercise their constitutional rights, including the right to receive an education in their native language. During Ahmadinejad`s tenure, Tehran has not allowed Azerbaijanis to enjoy these privileges either.
Iranian citizens living in 130 countries around the globe will cast their votes on election day. 304 polling stations have been set up abroad and 450,000 ballots sent to foreign embassies and consulates to allow Iranians living outside the country to vote.
Votes can be cast in Azerbaijan as well. According to Abbas Iskandari, the spokesman for the Iranian embassy in Baku, the polling stations established in Iran`s consulates will open as soon as polling begins on election day.
Iskandari noted that 700 Iranians voted at a ballot station set up in Azerbaijan during the last presidential election. This year, their number is expected to reach 1,000.
Iran`s general consulates are operating in the capital, Baku, and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
One of the conservative candidates, Mohsen Rezai, while campaigning in Tabriz, a city densely populated by Azerbaijanis, mentioned the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijan`s Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh region.
Turkey`s NTV channel quoted Rezai as saying that, if Iran had been more involved in its foreign policy and properly played its role in the volatile region about 20 years ago, part of Azerbaijani territory could not have been invaded.
Rezai thereby called on Tehran to pursue an appropriate foreign political course. "Iran`s foreign policy should be influential enough in the region and among the neighboring countries for us not to witness stand-off and wars," noted Rezai.
Iran is home to about 30 million Azerbaijanis, or about 40% of the country`s population of 70 million, which is predominantly Persian.
The presidential election will be held in Iran on Friday. Four hopefuls are running for presidency, including the incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and reformist Mehdi Karroubi. The fourth candidate in the race is Mir-Hossein Mousavi, an ethnic Azerbaijani who was formerly the prime minister.
Mousavi appears to have gained support in recent weeks among younger voters and city dwellers who use the Internet to mobilize rallies. Ahmadinejad is popular among rural voters and has the backing of the Basij religious paramilitary group with millions of members.
An opinion poll published Monday by two U.S.-based research institutes showed 34-percent of Iranian respondents backed Ahmadinejad, while 14 percent picked Mousavi and 27 percent were undecided.
President Ahmadinejad is trying to win over Azerbaijani voters, as well. He recently told voters in Tabriz that, while working in Ardebil, another Azerbaijani-populated town, he had learned their native language, which is "one of the most beautiful and flawless tongues in the world."
Azerbaijanis living in Iran have, for many years, been unable to exercise their constitutional rights, including the right to receive an education in their native language. During Ahmadinejad`s tenure, Tehran has not allowed Azerbaijanis to enjoy these privileges either.
Iranian citizens living in 130 countries around the globe will cast their votes on election day. 304 polling stations have been set up abroad and 450,000 ballots sent to foreign embassies and consulates to allow Iranians living outside the country to vote.
Votes can be cast in Azerbaijan as well. According to Abbas Iskandari, the spokesman for the Iranian embassy in Baku, the polling stations established in Iran`s consulates will open as soon as polling begins on election day.
Iskandari noted that 700 Iranians voted at a ballot station set up in Azerbaijan during the last presidential election. This year, their number is expected to reach 1,000.
Iran`s general consulates are operating in the capital, Baku, and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
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