Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Azerbaijan Interior Minister Ramil Usubov met on September 17 with OSCE Chairman-in-Office's special coordinator for observation of presidential elections in Azerbaijan, deputy head of the French delegation to the OSCE PA Michel Voisin and head of the France-Azerbaijan friendship group in the French National Assembly Thierry Mariani.

Usubov noted that the ministry has prepared a special action plan to safeguard public order, and to prevent law violations in the run-up to the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. He said policemen are ready to fulfill their duties with respect to the presidential elections.

According to Voisin, it is his fourth visit to Baku as an international observer.

During the meeting, Usubov said the ministry puts a focus on relationship with the OSCE with respect to ensuring human rights and freedoms, safeguarding public order, and combating transnational organized crime.

This effective cooperation helped to implement a number of police-related projects. Over the past years, the OSCE-implemented projects involved over 2,000 policemen.

Usubov noted that the ministry works to bring these projects to fruition.

He briefed the OSCE delegation on the crime situation, as well as legislation to bring policing in line with international standards through the assistance provided by reputable international organizations, including OSCE experts. Usubov stressed that workshops and trainings conducted by OSCE are instrumental in aligning the activity of policemen with international standards, expanding their horizon and heightening their proficiency.

Usubov further said that the ministry pays a special attention to fighting terrorism, illegal narcotics and human trafficking, and illegal migration. He noted the need to fight these crimes in concert with the OSCE.

A day before, Voisin and Mariani met with Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Ogtay Asadov.

During the meeting, Asadov said that Azerbaijan has every condition for conducting democratic and transparent elections. "Webcams installed in over 1,000 polling stations will help watch voting process," he stressed.

Asadov also noted that the representatives of the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and Parliamentary Assembly will be observing presidential elections on October 9. OSCE has so far monitored 8 elections in Azerbaijan. He expressed hope that reports to be prepared by the international organizations will be complete and objective.

Voisin, for his part, hailed environment created for the conduct of presidential elections, adding he had so far observed four elections in Azerbaijan.

On the same day, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received OSCE observation delegation members Voisin and Mariani

They discussed issues related to preparatory work ahead of the upcoming presidential election in the country.