Domestic

Domestic

Venice Commission, IFES and Azerbaijani Central Election Commission will hold roundtable on amending Electoral Code in Baku

07 November 2007 15:11 (UTC +04:00)

The representatives of Azerbaijan Citizen Party, Justice Party, Azerbaijan National Independence Party, Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party, Azerbaijan Liberal Democratic Party, Great Establishment Party, Open Society Party, Hope (Umud) Party, United Azerbaijan Popular front Party, Citizen Solidarity Party ,Azerbaijan Democratic Independence Party and New Azerbaijan Party participated in the event.Chiefs of parties did not attend the event.
Mazahir Panahov, chief of CEC stated that they will look through proposals on considering complaints received by election commissions in the debates. He said that current law in Azerbaijan, proposals, international practice will be compared and optimal variant will be found while debates. Sergey Kuznetsov, member of Elections and Referendum Department of Venice Commission stated that improving Electoral Code is in the centre of attention of Council of Europe and issue was debated several times. â€œWe want law to serve the interests of whole society not separate political groups,â€ he said.
IFES Azerbaijan Chief of Party Dan Blessington gave information to the participants about international practice and models on considering complaints in separate countries. He said that complaints on elections in 56 countries are first sent to the Court,to management bodies in 55 countries and to election commissions in other countries.
Head of OSCE office in Baku,Jose Luis Herraro said that they will try to achieve an agreement on ensuring justice in political competition during elections.
â€œ2008 Presidential elections are especially very important. International organizations are interested in holding free and fair elections. These elections will show whether Azerbaijan is going towards democracy or not, â€œhe said. After speech of organizers, debates have been continued without the participation of journalists./APA/