“Strong authorities, week opposition in Azerbaijan” – OSCE chairman
Baku, April 2, AssA-Irada
Ways of settling the Upper Garabagh conflict and parliamentary
elections due in Azerbaijan this November were discussed by the OSCE
chairman-in-office Dimitrij Rupel and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku on Saturday.
Rupel told a news briefing following the meeting that the OSCE would
like for peace talks to intensify. The OSCE chairman said that during
the meeting Mammadyarov expressed “new and interesting views”, which
need to be discussed with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian.
Touching upon the parliamentary elections, Rupel noted that he has
presented to Mammadyarov several OSCE proposals, but did not elaborate.
“There are very strong authorities and week opposition in Azerbaijan,”
said Rupel, underlining that the OSCE will express equal attitude both
towards the authorities and opposition and try to achieve conduct of
fair and free elections.
The goal of Rupel’s visit to Azerbaijan as part of his tour of
the South Caucasus region is to get familiar with the current
socio-political situation in the country and preparations for the
upcoming parliamentary elections, as well as to discuss the Upper
Garabagh conflict and ceasefire violations.*