Azernews.Az

Foreign observers who monitored the presidential election in Azerbaijan on October have hailed its organization.

The presidential election voting, which took place on Wednesday, was completed at 19:00 local time throughout Azerbaijan.

The observers described the election as free, transparent and democratic.

"Together with our colleagues we represent four out of 12 member states of the BSEC. Azerbaijan is a democratic country which conducts democratic elections," said Ismail Safi, chairman of the Turkish delegation to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization's Parliamentary Assembly, head of the organization`s observation mission said.

Director of Independent American Center of Political Monitoring Lidia Lawson said they started the observation at 7.30 in the morning. She said they recorded no frauds or irregularities.

Turkish MPs Ansar Oyut and Ramiz Topal praised the election noting that the most important feature of the election in Azerbaijan is the application of web cameras.

Former ASEAN under Secretary-General Immanuel Robert Inki Wirang, who monitored the election in the polling station No 6 in Khatai district, said turnout was high after 11.00. He stressed the fact that many polling stations were equipped with web cameras. "The election was well organized."

An international observer from Belgium said Davi Kirs voters freely made their choice. "We have not recorded any irregularities."

Belarus Ambassador in Baku Nikolay Patskevich said he visited polling station No 36, adding no frauds or irregularities were registered.

"Everything is good. There is no violation of law. No complaints have been received. Representatives of opposition parties were among those who monitored the voting process," he said.

Member of the German monitoring mission,Walter Erwin Nadler said that the election was held in a democratic and transparent manner.

"We have noticed no negative facts during the observation," said noting the fact that the majority of voters were women.

Chairman of the Russian Central Election Commission Vladimir Churov said

presidential election in Azerbaijan has been organized in line with international standards.

"We have not witnessed any law violation in the polling stations. We visited a number of constituencies and polling stations. The elections were organized perfectly. Neither observers nor journalists face problems in their activities. The voting is going on normally," he said.

Member of the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International Muhammad Jusuf Kalla said that they faced no negative elements.

"There is a transparent and democratic atmosphere," he said while appraising the installation of web cameras in polling stations.

Roberto Tumbarello, representing the Council of Europe, said Azerbaijan`s Central Election Commission took all necessary measures to ensure democratic and transparent conduct of the presidential election. "The Azerbaijani election was better organized than in some European countries in terms of transparency."

Member of the OSCE mission Dmitry Serov said the presidential election in Azerbaijan was excellently organized. It marked a high turnout. All necessary conditions were created for voters."

International observer from the USA David Podoff, described the election as a historic and remarkable event.

According to the first results, incumbent President Ilham Aliyev won the elections.

This year ten candidates compete for the top job, including chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, President Aliyev, Umid Party leader Igbal Aghazade, self-nominated candidate Zahid Oruj, chairman of the United Popular Front Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev, Modern Musavat party leader Hafiz Hajiyev, Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party chairman Araz Alizade, National Revival Party leader Faraj Guliyev, chairman of the Adalat (Justice) party Ilyas Ismayilov, Jamil Hasanli from the opposition National Council as well as chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party Sardar Jalaloghlu.

The number of eligible voters in the country is nearly 5,145,000. The voting is conducted in 5,492 polling stations. Thirty-eight polling stations were set up abroad.