DUSHANBE, July 24, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Ahmadrafiq Homidov, the head of the international cooperation department, Tajik ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday met here with Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan, Abbasali Hasanov, Adham Mirsaidov, the head of the PDP Propagation and Analysis Center told Asia-Plus today morning.

According to him, the two considered issues related to implementation of an agreement that was signed between the PDP and Azeri ruling Yeni Azerbaijan (New Azerbaijan) Party.

“Homidov and Hasanov, in particular, exchanged views on improvement of activities of the parties during the presidential elections that will be held in both countries in the fall of this year,” Mirsaidov said.

We will recall that in Azerbaijan, the presidential election will be held on October 16, 2013.  In Tajikistan, the presidential election will be held in November, but the exact date for the election has not yet been set.

Founded in 1993, the People’s Democratic Party is the largest political party in Tajikistan, boasting more than 230,000 registered members.  President Emomali Rahmon is chairman of the party. The PDPT now controls some 65 percent of the seats in parliament (45 of 63 seats).

The New Azerbaijan Party was formed on December 18, 1992 by the former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who led it until his retirement and death in 2003.  It is now led by his son, Ilham Aliyev, who succeeded his father as the party leader and as President of Azerbaijan since 2003.  At the 2010 parliamentary elections, it won 72 out of 125 seats.  Presently, New Azerbaijan Party has 518 thousand members.