Views differ on benefit of election seminars
International groups operating in Azerbaijan have been holding
training sessions and seminars since June for employees of the
country`s election bodies, prior to the October 15 presidential
election.
The sessions, attended by representatives of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and district election commissions, promote awareness of issues ranging from methods to counter electoral fraud to rules on considering complaints.
Mazahir Panahov, CEC chairman, said such seminars are of great importance and, particularly, benefit members of constituency and district election commissions in the regions.
"These people receive an overview of what international requirements are about, so that no one from the outside is able to dictate to them," he said.
But Asif Yusifov, a former member of a district election commission in the Narimanov district of Baku, argued that such seminars are fruitless. He claimed that, although members of the commission participated in most seminars organized by international organizations, along with others, such education still did not prevent the most serious election irregularities.
He further maintained that another reason such activities are futile is due to the poor compliance of electoral legislation with democratic standards.
Yusifov said it was unlikely that international groups, which allocate hefty funds for training sessions, are unaware that these efforts are fruitless. "I don`t think they are unaware -- they are probably just trying to make things better, but as we can see, this is not enough."
Jurist Muzaffar Bakhishov said, so far, election-related complaints have not been properly studied in Azerbaijan, an example being the authorities` alleged influence over election bodies.
Veronika Kotek, the Council of Europe ambassador to Azerbaijan, disagreed with statements that election seminars are useless and that international organizations are taking little interest in the upcoming election. She said the CE is currently carrying out the activities it already implemented under various projects during the previous election.
Kotek did not say, however, how much funding has been designated for these electoral training sessions.
The sessions, attended by representatives of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and district election commissions, promote awareness of issues ranging from methods to counter electoral fraud to rules on considering complaints.
Mazahir Panahov, CEC chairman, said such seminars are of great importance and, particularly, benefit members of constituency and district election commissions in the regions.
"These people receive an overview of what international requirements are about, so that no one from the outside is able to dictate to them," he said.
But Asif Yusifov, a former member of a district election commission in the Narimanov district of Baku, argued that such seminars are fruitless. He claimed that, although members of the commission participated in most seminars organized by international organizations, along with others, such education still did not prevent the most serious election irregularities.
He further maintained that another reason such activities are futile is due to the poor compliance of electoral legislation with democratic standards.
Yusifov said it was unlikely that international groups, which allocate hefty funds for training sessions, are unaware that these efforts are fruitless. "I don`t think they are unaware -- they are probably just trying to make things better, but as we can see, this is not enough."
Jurist Muzaffar Bakhishov said, so far, election-related complaints have not been properly studied in Azerbaijan, an example being the authorities` alleged influence over election bodies.
Veronika Kotek, the Council of Europe ambassador to Azerbaijan, disagreed with statements that election seminars are useless and that international organizations are taking little interest in the upcoming election. She said the CE is currently carrying out the activities it already implemented under various projects during the previous election.
Kotek did not say, however, how much funding has been designated for these electoral training sessions.
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