The leaders of Azerbaijan's three main opposition parties have disclosed plans to make a joint visit to the United States. Some political analysts in Baku believe that the trip is designed to promote a unified opposition candidate to compete in Azerbaijan's presidential election this fall.

Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC) has confirmed the presidential vote will take place October 15, the Turan news agency reported. However, just who will be running in the election remains unclear. Health issues continue to cloud President Heidar Aliyev's candidacy. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The opposition daily Yeni Musavat reported June 14 that doctors had advised against Aliyev making a run for re-election. The report went on to predict that the administration would focus its attention in the coming days on promoting the candidacy of the president's son, Ilham Aliyev. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Meanwhile, the Trend news agency reported that Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag had met with President Aliyev on June 11 and pronounced the Azerbaijani leader