Walter Swimmer: "This is an old rule of democracy: "If you boycott elections, you will probably get an undesired result for you"

- Do you consider that the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan will meet the CE standards, as Azerbaijani powers state?

- On the one hand, Azerbaijan, being a full member of the Council of Europe, undertook to adhere to principles of pluralism, democracy and supremacy of law.

On the other hand, and I think that it would be clear in the moment of Azerbaijan's CE accession, the country is still on the way of transfer to real democracy.

Thus, my expectations are that the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan are a further step to the fully functioning democracy. Therefore, everyone, who is involved in the election process, should completely realize his responsibility for the country. Europe and the world will closely watch the elections in Azerbaijan.

- What do you think about the decision of the greater part of Azerbaijani opposition to boycott elections?

- This is also a democratic right to abstain from voting by any reason. Even in traditionally democratic states parties sometimes decide not to participate in the elections, especially in the presidential elections, as they have no real argument to oppose any popular candidate from any other party or they do not see any chances to win.

On the other hand, some countries have a stable tradition to take part in the elections in any conditions, for example in France, where some candidates usually gain 1-2% and even less.

My personal advise (which does not, however, ignore the right of abstaining from voting) is that it is necessary to take part in the elections and when needed to create unions of like-minded persons.

- Can the decision of the opposition on boycott of elections influence the results of elections?

- It is difficult to answer this question. Perhaps, it will have no serious influence. But at the same time, there is an old rule of democracy: if you do not vote, you will probably get an undesired result.

- Azerbaijan has not fully accepted all recommendations of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe regarding the electoral code. Is it possible to hold free and transparent elections in such conditions?

- I can refer to the opinion of the Venice Commission: the nature of elections will be defined by the level of sincerity of intentions and political will the powers and state institutions, responsible for implementation and ensuring of the electoral law, will demonstrate. Even if the electoral code is imperfect, the experienced Venice Commission considers that everything will depend on the powers and institutions, responsible for execution of the electoral code and provision of the electoral process in line with the standards of democracy and legal norms.

- Which will be the reaction of the Council of Europe to possible violations during the elections?

- Prediction of the CE reaction to the situation, which, I hope, will not occur, does not depend on me. Yet, neither the parliamentary assembly, not the Committee of Ministers will not ignore serious violations during elections in the member-states. In the family of European democratic states, violations during the electoral process, like the violations of human rights are not the so-called "internal affairs". Therefore, I called on all the parties, involved in the electoral process to understand their responsibility in my answer to the first question.

- You have been acquainted with working president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev since the joint activity in PACE. What do you expect from the further development of Azerbaijan in case of his being re-elected?

- Well, my acquaintance with Ilham Aliyev started during his membership in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and he is now the leader of Azerbaijan. He knows well what he should do for the country to meet the European standards and for improving living conditions of his compatriots.

During my recent visit to Baku, I witnessed Azerbaijan's development as compared to my previous official visit to the country as the CE Secretary General in 2004 and I was impressed.

If Aliyev again wins the presidential elections, I hope he will continue to lead the country to Europe and allow the citizens to use the wealth of the country and attain peace in the conflict with neighbor Armenia.

/Day.Az/