OSCE encourages the Azerbaijani government to facilitate the registration of the Election Monitoring Centre

BAKU, 15 May 2008 - The OSCE Office in Baku issued a statement today to express regret over the 14 May decision of Azerbaijan's Khatai District Court to cancel the registration of the Election Monitoring Centre, a local civil society organization.

It called on the authorities to facilitate the registration of civil society organizations and to provide these organizations with the opportunity to correct any technical registration errors, rather than de-register them.

"In a democratic system the authorities should acknowledge and support the positive role that civil society organizations play. As an OSCE participating State, Azerbaijan has acknowledged the importance of domestic election observation and the vital role that non-governmental organizations can play in promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law," said Ambassador Jose-Luis Herrero, Head of the OSCE Office in Baku.

"Domestic election observers are a vital component of a transparent, democratic election process. The OSCE Office in Baku strongly encourages the Azerbaijani government to do its utmost to overcome the situation so that the Election Monitoring Centre can be registered again shortly and operate in full capacity in the upcoming electoral process."