'The Japan Times' posts article on Azerbaijani presidential elections

Japanese “The Japan Times” newspaper for diplomats and businessmen has posted an article titled “2013 Presidential Elections in Azerbaijan”. The author of the article Azerbaijani Ambassador Gursel Ismayilzade writes that Azerbaijani elections on October were free and fair. Majority of the voters supported President Ilham Aliyev, he writes. 2013 presidential elections were a historical step taken in strengthening the democracy in the country.

The article notes, 72 % of the citizens participated at the elections. The elections were monitored by 1400 observers from 50 international organizations and 100 foreign countries. Stressing the high technical support of the voters the ambassador writes that nearly thousand web cameras were installed in the voting polls.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and observers from the European Parliament noting Azerbaijan’s progress said the elections were free, fair and transparent.
The article stresses that Azerbaijan is a rapidly developing democracy with its constantly progressing economy and a stable political system. Since the tenure of President Ilham Aliyev, the country sees a constant economic growth and opening of the new job places. GDP per capita has increased from 346 USD in 1990 to 7490 USD in 2012. Azerbaijan has become a regional leader and a trusted partner in the international relations.

Referring to the country’s place in sustaining the energy security the author writes about Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

The author notes as a result of the successful policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijan preserves its religious tolerance, and therefore the people from different religions and backgrounds live here in peace.

The author writes that Azerbaijan has turned to the host country of many international events.
The article ends with a sentence from President Ilham Aliyev’s recent speech: ‘Azerbaijan will continue its progress as a democratic country.


/AzerTAc/