23 September 2008
TURAN

Approximately 250-300 observers from CIS countries will participate in the monitoring of the presidential elections in Azerbaijan on October 15, said at the press conference on October 15 a functionary of the CIS Observers Mission, Oleg Kuleba.

According to him, the mission started activities on September 15 and familiarized with the preparation and agitation campaigns in the southern and northern regions of Azerbaijan.

Speaking about the first conclusion they came to, Kuleba said that “CEC and the state bodies of Azerbaijan have taken concrete measures to provide free, fair and democratic elections”. As an example, he mentioned the invitation of a large number of observers for the monitoring; open character of the CEC activities, conduction of seminars for the members of district election committees, preparation of methodical materials to explain election procedures, and serious work aimed at preparing precise lists of electors. The mission considers that the nomination and registration of candidates were conducted in accordance with Azerbaijan’s Election Code. This stage of the election campaign is conducted with the necessary political pluralism, and the principles of alternativeness and competitiveness are observed. “CIS observers consider that executive bodies and election commissions of all levels at the first stages of the election campaign have organized the election process in conformity with the requirements of the existing legislation,” Kuleba said.

Responding the question from Turan if Moscow shared the conclusions made by PACE Monitoring Group about the society mainly indifferent to the elections, Kuleba said: “We have enough experience in observing elections in the CIS countries. If there is a tendency of stable development, elections are usually held calmly. If there are problems with living standards, the election campaigns usually become tough.”

Responding the question if the mission members had meetings with the leaders of the opposition parties boycotting the elections he said such meetings “are being arranged”.

The mission will open their regional offices in Lankaran, Khachmas, Nakhchivan and Gandja. Observers from CIS will also cooperate with the members of ODIHR/OSCE mission members.

The head of the mission, Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, Sergey Lebedev will arrive a few days before the elections after the CIS Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on October 10. The mission will publicly estimate the results of the elections on October 16