Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 6 2005
PREPARATIONS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN SHOULD BE DONE MORE PROFESSIONALLY THAN PREVIOUS YEARS, CE SEC-GEN URGES
“The preparations for the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan
should be implemented in more professional way than the previous years
and discuss the issue with Azerbaijani leadership, Terry Davis, the
Council of Europe Secretary General, said in Heydar Aliyev airport
on 4 September.
Davis noted that his current visit to Baku was dedicated to appraisal
of the pre-elections situation in Azerbaijan and Karabakh conflict
would be left untouched.
“Now the organization of fair and democratic elections in Azerbaijan
is on focus. It is of paramount importance for the future of
Azerbaijan,” the CE Secretary General underlined. Besides, the
democratic elections could have positive impact on the process of
resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, he added. Till
recent period I had been closely involved in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the CE and today I attentively observe over the negotiation process,
said Davis, underlining the role of the OSCE Minsk Group.
In reply to question on possible reconsideration of a mandate of
the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation at the PACE in case the
elections fell short of democratic standards Davis voice his hope
that the preparations for the parliamentary elections would be more
professional as compared to previous ones and upon the announcement of
the results of elections the PACE will state its position on the issue.
Commenting on the CE position on the Armenian President tour of he
occupied Azerbaijani lands Davis said, “I arrived in Azerbaijan,
but not Armenia and I am not going to discuss the actions by Armenian
President Robert Kocharian.
Asked on possibility of a revolution in Azerbaijan Davis noted that
he did not came to Baku to support any political party, but assist
in the organization of fair and democratic elections. “Azerbaijan is
a democratic state and only the people of Azerbaijan have a right to
elect their government and the way of progress. I am sure that the
support will strengthen the interests in opening open elections,”
he underlined.
In the end Davis said that the forthcoming October session of
the PACE will not discuss the issue linked with the situation in
Azerbaijan. “As far as I know issues linked with the results of
the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan will be considered at a
Januarys session of the PACE, which is to mull reports by the OSCE
and different international organizations on the elections process
and results of voting,” CE Secretary General said.
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