ANNE DERSE: "USA WILL SPEND OVER $3,000,000 FOR ASSISTANCE TO FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN"

Today.Az
01 May 2008 [13:00]

The United States will assign over $3,000,000 for different programs,
aimed at fair and transparent elections in Azerbaijan.

The due announcement was made by the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Anne Derse.

She noted that these programs will aim at:

-strengthening of political parties; -observation of elections and
their monitoring; -conduction of political debates; -conduction of
various trainings; -conduction of an exit-poll.

"Our assistance is aimed not to separate parties or politicians but
for strengthening of democratic values in Azerbaijan. The coming
elections offer a unique opportunity to Azerbaijan to demonstration
the strengthening of these values. The United States want Azerbaijan
to attain its goal in development of modern democratic state and the
leader of the region. I think our programs will promote attainment
of these goals.

At the same time, Anne Derse noted that democratic development
primarily depends on the will of the state and people. She expressed
hope that the coming elections will be fair and transparent and the
events, which occurred in Armenia, will not repeat.