EU STATEMENT ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAUSED BAKU’S BEWILDERMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.10.2008 17:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The EU statement that the Azerbaijani presidential
election did not meet international standards received a diverse
feedback, for all other international organizations announced that
the election was well organized and democratic, an Azeri official said.

"The Azeri government protests the EU statement," said Novruz
Mammadov, head of international relations division at the Azeri
president’s administration. "This statement is disrespect for the
other international observation missions."

"1258 international observers from 59 countries watched the
election process and concluded that it was an advance toward
democratization. Although, the absence of opposition candidates was
marked as the main shortcoming, the EU statement caused surprise,"
Mammadov said, 1news.az reports.

Commenting on the presidential election in Azerbaijan, Chair of the
EP Delegation, Mrs. Marie Anne Isler Béguin, stated: "According to
our observations on Election Day, the election was well prepared and
largely carried out smoothly. However, we deplore the lack of genuine
competition, due to the boycott by major opposition parties and the
absence of a real campaign".

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