Domestic

Home page

Domestic

Bahar Muradova: Anyway, we will go to the elections with the present Electoral Code

28 September 2007 12:52 (UTC +04:00)

â€œDelay of the draft law on education has some reasons. Educational bodies had divergence concerning some issues on the draft law. I think that this divergence has already been removed, and an agreement was reached with this respect,â€ Bahar Muradova, vice-speaker of Azerbaijani parliament said in her exclusive interview to APA. The vice-speaker sees no serious obstacles for debating the bill in the fall session.
Bahar Muradova said that the issue on Electoral Code has not been included into the agenda of the fall session, as the talks with the Venice Commission continue and underlined that anyway the presidential elections will be held basing on the current Electoral Code.
â€œThis Electoral Code provides a legal framework and allows holding democratic elections. But like any other law, the Electoral Code may also undergo some changes. We have always made amendments to the Electoral Code which serve improving the election practice and continue doing this. But I think that only a group of people wants fundamental amendments to the code. I do not consider fulfilling these demands expedient,â€ she said.
Vice-speaker underlined that YAP (New Azerbaijan Party) is one of the political powers, which put forth the conformation of the law on political parties to the constitution and present political realities.
â€œWe offered this from time to time and our proposal is still efficient. The law on political parties has to be amended or worked out, as a result of serious investigations and assessments. I think that the law needs to be worked out,â€ she said.
Bahar Muradova regarded opinion of political opponents on forming election commissions on parity basis as groundless.
â€œThe more they insist on forming election commissions on parity basis, the more we insist that there is no need for it. There is no need to debate this issue as there are not any contradictions on dividing Azerbaijani society to 2 parts. For example, we say ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) is one side. But who will they be? On which criteria will the two sides of parity be established? To tell the truth, I think that if there is need to change the composition of Election Commissions, professionals should be in the composition of it,â€ she said.
Vice-speaker underlined that she is satisfied with the activity of parliament.
â€œAzerbaijani Parliament fulfills its duties as a legislative body today, objectively assesses processes ongoing in Azerbaijan and in the world, puts issues worrying people into the agenda. But opposition is not homogeneous in parliament. The representatives of various parties demonstrate various approaches,â€ she said.
Bahar Muradova also commented on the imprisonment of journalists.
â€œI do not think that imprisonment of 7 journalists negatively influence on the image of Azerbaijan. There are a lot of issues which can negatively impact on the image of the country. For example, kidnapping, incidents occurred on family disputesâ€¦ All these cases negatively influence on the image of the country. Such cases occur in many countries and they can not be prevented completely. Laws exist for eliminating such cases,â€ she said.
Vice-speaker said that she is not satisfied with media outletsâ€™ interpretation on parliamentâ€™s activity.
â€œI am dissatisfied with it. Journalists only attend the first parts of the meetings of the Parliament, they do not stay till the second part. Therefore they can not elucidate issues well. To my regret, main activity of Azerbaijani Parliament is kept in the background,â€ he said. /APA/