PACE head expects fair election in Azerbaijan
Movlud
Chavushoglu, the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE), has said he believes Azerbaijan’s
parliamentary elections to be held in November will be more
democratic and transparent in comparison with previous polls.
Chavushoglu told a news briefing in Baku Wednesday that Azerbaijan has managed to convince him that the vote will be democratic.
"We believe that pledge. We have been convinced that a free and democratic election will be held," said Chavushoglu, adding that this would be "Azerbaijan’s biggest present to the PACE".
The parliamentary poll will be held in 125 constituencies based on the majority-of-votes system.
The PACE president said the goal of his visit to Azerbaijan was to hold discussions on the democratization process and on continuing the steps taken by the country so far to meet Council of Europe obligations, noting that the CE would facilitate efforts aimed at democratic development.
In reply to a question, "One of Azerbaijan’s obligations to the CE is ensuring freedom of assembly, but today the police broke up the Musavat party’s protest, how would you comment on that?" Chavushoglu suggested that both the ruling and opposition parties, and the interior minister, jointly determine venues for public protests.
Chavushoglu said he had also held discussions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict during his visit. The PACE president reminded that, in a bid to facilitate a peaceful solution of the long-standing dispute, the assembly’s sub-committee on Garabagh will resume its work later in April and he will head the body himself.*
Chavushoglu told a news briefing in Baku Wednesday that Azerbaijan has managed to convince him that the vote will be democratic.
"We believe that pledge. We have been convinced that a free and democratic election will be held," said Chavushoglu, adding that this would be "Azerbaijan’s biggest present to the PACE".
The parliamentary poll will be held in 125 constituencies based on the majority-of-votes system.
The PACE president said the goal of his visit to Azerbaijan was to hold discussions on the democratization process and on continuing the steps taken by the country so far to meet Council of Europe obligations, noting that the CE would facilitate efforts aimed at democratic development.
In reply to a question, "One of Azerbaijan’s obligations to the CE is ensuring freedom of assembly, but today the police broke up the Musavat party’s protest, how would you comment on that?" Chavushoglu suggested that both the ruling and opposition parties, and the interior minister, jointly determine venues for public protests.
Chavushoglu said he had also held discussions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict during his visit. The PACE president reminded that, in a bid to facilitate a peaceful solution of the long-standing dispute, the assembly’s sub-committee on Garabagh will resume its work later in April and he will head the body himself.*
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