Azerbaijani ruling party: Electoral commissions formed on basis of OSCE recommendations

The format of the Azerbaijani electoral commissions was formed in 2000 in accordance with OSCE recommendations. So far, it proved itself, ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary Ali Ahmedov said at roundtable organized by the OSCE Baku office.

"Until 2000, some tried to conduct elections on an equal basis, however, some forces attempted to use it for violations of the electoral process. It was the format chosen not by us or anyone else, but the format, which the situation obliged to," the official said.

At yesterday's news conference, Head of OSCE Baku Office Ali Bilge Cankorel said that he is in favor of forming electoral commissions on a parity basis. The Azerbaijani opposition parties also demands the same format.

Under the current form, the members of the ruling party are in majority at the commission.

Ahmedov said the electoral commission is not authority that decides the fate of the elections.

"Sometimes it seems that some organizations outside of Azerbaijan, want to implement some projects in Azerbaijan by changing the format of the commissions. We do not want Azerbaijan to become a testing ground for innovation," the official added.

Today, the OSCE Baku office held a round table based on recommendations from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Organization. The main topic of discussion that was attended by representatives of political parties, civil society and international community were issues related to the execution of the law "On freedom of assembly" and questions on the election campaign, including the illegal interference in the electoral process.


/Trend/