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Elkhan Suleymanov: PACE long-term mission will arrive in Baku on September 11

26 August 2013 08:33 (UTC +04:00)

Baku – APA. ‘OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has formed a long-term mission consisting of 30 delegates to observe the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Head of the mission is also already known’, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Delegation to the Euronest PA, MP Elkhan Suleymanov told APA.

To him, ODIHR has also decided to form a short-term mission consisting of 280 delegates and the observers would be determined in the near future.

‘At the same time, it is known that observation mission of the PACE will also follow the elections. Its long-term mission comprising 5-7 delegates will arrive in Baku on September 11. The European Parliament is not expected to observe the forthcoming elections in Azerbaijan. However, change of this position in September is not ruled out. As to observation mission of the OSCE PA, I can say that according to information from reliable sources, OSCE PA decided early in July to send observation mission for the presidential elections in Azerbaijan. But thereafter, media outlets spread reports claiming that this organization will not send an observation mission to Azerbaijan. According to the reports, the observation mission will not follow the elections because of two reasons. The first is that the upcoming presidential elections coincide with the OSCE PA session in Budva. The second reason is that as a rule, OSCE PA observes parliamentary elections, not presidential elections. But as you know, the presidential elections will be held on October 9 and it does not coincide with the date of the session.
Elkhan Suleymanov said the other reason is quite groundless.

“OSCE PA has sent observation mission to follow presidential elections in a number of countries. OSCE PA observation mission followed the presidential elections in Armenia in February this year. OSCE PA has passed a decision to send an observation mission to follow the presidential elections in Georgia on October 27. In this case, it can be regarded as discrimination with respect to the countries located in the region and no doubt, this is a factor that will undermine the image of the OSCE in the region. As far as I know, OSCE PA will send an observation mission for the presidential elections in Azerbaijan,” he said.