CoE, OSCE to observe Azeri local polls
The Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will observe Azerbaijan’s December 23
municipal elections, according to the heads of the two
organizations’ Baku representations.
Veronika Kotek, the CE Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said the election will be monitored by a small observation mission of the group’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.
"The make-up of the mission has not yet been determined. But it is known that this will be a short-term observation mission," Kotek said.
As for the OSCE, the organization will delegate representatives of its Baku office to observe the local polls, Bilge Cankorel, head of the OSCE office, told journalists. According to him, his office will prepare a report about the course of the elections and further submit it to the OSCE.
Cankorel said there is an opinion that democratic advances have been achieved in Azerbaijan’s electoral process, however, some problems remain outstanding. He noted that, though under the country’s laws military men are to vote in general ballot stations, polling stations are often set up in military units proper.
"We want servicemen’s voting to fully comply with the law," Cankorel added.*
Veronika Kotek, the CE Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said the election will be monitored by a small observation mission of the group’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.
"The make-up of the mission has not yet been determined. But it is known that this will be a short-term observation mission," Kotek said.
As for the OSCE, the organization will delegate representatives of its Baku office to observe the local polls, Bilge Cankorel, head of the OSCE office, told journalists. According to him, his office will prepare a report about the course of the elections and further submit it to the OSCE.
Cankorel said there is an opinion that democratic advances have been achieved in Azerbaijan’s electoral process, however, some problems remain outstanding. He noted that, though under the country’s laws military men are to vote in general ballot stations, polling stations are often set up in military units proper.
"We want servicemen’s voting to fully comply with the law," Cankorel added.*
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