Pres poll not fully compliant with OSCE standards: EC
The 2008 presidential election in Azerbaijan
complied with OSCE standards technically, but fell short of other
standards, the European Commission has said, but pointed out
ongoing progress in other fields, such as economic growth and
judiciary reform.
In its report evaluating last year`s progress in the implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), released last week, it said the election-related shortfalls concerned freedom of assembly, access of candidates to the media and the vote count. The report claimed that the political situation in the country worsened prior to the elections and no suitable conditions had been provided for a real diversity of views. The changes made to the Election Code complied with some recommendations of the OSCE and the Council of Europe Venice Commission, however, some issues, in particular the nomination of hopefuls, the set-up of electoral commissions, as well as the procedures for filing appeals and complaints, were unsatisfactory, the European Commission said.
It also maintained that freedom of speech and media is still a source of concern in Azerbaijan. The threatening of opposition journalists with arrest, physical attacks and prosecutions for unknown reasons continued. Diversity of opinions is restricted in the media, while television and the Internet are under state control, and access to additional information through radio stations is limited.
Further, the report said tensions remain in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, but some progress has been made in the peace process. In November 2008 a positive step in the OSCE Minsk Group-brokered peace talks was taken, through the signing of the first political declaration by the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan since 1994.
It said Azerbaijan is a strategic partner for the European Union on Caspian oil and gas resources, both as a producer and as a transit country. Azerbaijan has performed a leading role in the framework of the Baku Process on Energy and Transport and organized an energy summit on November 14, 2008.
According to the European Commission, progress was also made in the area of economic development and the business environment, notably the establishment of a `one-stop-shop` for the registration of business in January 2008, and the adoption of legislation on the "Single Window" concept of customs clearance, which began in January 2009. Azerbaijan received recognition as a "Top Reformer" by the World Bank in its international surveys on the ease of doing business.
The economy of Azerbaijan continued growing sharply in 2008, with overall GDP growth reaching about 10.8%, mainly due to oil and gas export revenues. However, the non-oil sector responded to the strong fiscal stimulus and grew by 15.7%, led by a robust expansion in construction, services and agriculture.
EU has progressively become Azerbaijan`s main trade partner, accounting for nearly 30% of Azerbaijan`s overall external trade. In 2008, the total turnover of bilateral trade with the EU reached €12.6 billion, with Azerbaijani exports to the EU at €10.55 billion (almost exclusively of mineral fuels) and EU exports €2 billion (mainly machinery and transport equipment, as well as base metals and products made from them and chemicals).
Also, some progress was made in the field of judicial reform, notably in the area of selection and training of judges. 102 new judges were recruited and the Academy of Justice was established to improve training for judges and other lawyers.
Azerbaijan remains committed to the alignment of its higher education system to the principles of the Bologna process. The new draft law on education, approximating the Bologna provisions, passed its second reading in parliament in December 2008. Further, the Ministry of Education has signed agreements on bilateral cooperation with nearly 20 countries, including several from the EU, as well as Turkey, according to the report.
In its annual Progress Reports, the European Commission takes stock of the concrete reforms made by countries within the ENP in 2008 and identifies the areas where further efforts are needed.
In its report evaluating last year`s progress in the implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), released last week, it said the election-related shortfalls concerned freedom of assembly, access of candidates to the media and the vote count. The report claimed that the political situation in the country worsened prior to the elections and no suitable conditions had been provided for a real diversity of views. The changes made to the Election Code complied with some recommendations of the OSCE and the Council of Europe Venice Commission, however, some issues, in particular the nomination of hopefuls, the set-up of electoral commissions, as well as the procedures for filing appeals and complaints, were unsatisfactory, the European Commission said.
It also maintained that freedom of speech and media is still a source of concern in Azerbaijan. The threatening of opposition journalists with arrest, physical attacks and prosecutions for unknown reasons continued. Diversity of opinions is restricted in the media, while television and the Internet are under state control, and access to additional information through radio stations is limited.
Further, the report said tensions remain in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, but some progress has been made in the peace process. In November 2008 a positive step in the OSCE Minsk Group-brokered peace talks was taken, through the signing of the first political declaration by the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan since 1994.
It said Azerbaijan is a strategic partner for the European Union on Caspian oil and gas resources, both as a producer and as a transit country. Azerbaijan has performed a leading role in the framework of the Baku Process on Energy and Transport and organized an energy summit on November 14, 2008.
According to the European Commission, progress was also made in the area of economic development and the business environment, notably the establishment of a `one-stop-shop` for the registration of business in January 2008, and the adoption of legislation on the "Single Window" concept of customs clearance, which began in January 2009. Azerbaijan received recognition as a "Top Reformer" by the World Bank in its international surveys on the ease of doing business.
The economy of Azerbaijan continued growing sharply in 2008, with overall GDP growth reaching about 10.8%, mainly due to oil and gas export revenues. However, the non-oil sector responded to the strong fiscal stimulus and grew by 15.7%, led by a robust expansion in construction, services and agriculture.
EU has progressively become Azerbaijan`s main trade partner, accounting for nearly 30% of Azerbaijan`s overall external trade. In 2008, the total turnover of bilateral trade with the EU reached €12.6 billion, with Azerbaijani exports to the EU at €10.55 billion (almost exclusively of mineral fuels) and EU exports €2 billion (mainly machinery and transport equipment, as well as base metals and products made from them and chemicals).
Also, some progress was made in the field of judicial reform, notably in the area of selection and training of judges. 102 new judges were recruited and the Academy of Justice was established to improve training for judges and other lawyers.
Azerbaijan remains committed to the alignment of its higher education system to the principles of the Bologna process. The new draft law on education, approximating the Bologna provisions, passed its second reading in parliament in December 2008. Further, the Ministry of Education has signed agreements on bilateral cooperation with nearly 20 countries, including several from the EU, as well as Turkey, according to the report.
In its annual Progress Reports, the European Commission takes stock of the concrete reforms made by countries within the ENP in 2008 and identifies the areas where further efforts are needed.
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