OSCE Office organizes discussions on ODIHR election recommendations

BAKU, 8 April 2010 - The OSCE Office in Baku is today launching a series of roundtable discussions with political parties and civil society to follow-up the recommendations by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission in 2008.

Today's discussion aims to increase confidence in the election process and to promote the interaction between different political parties. The agenda includes issues regarding the election campaign, in particular the implementation of the Law on Freedom of Assembly and illegal interference in the election process.

Representatives from Azerbaijani sixteen political parties, civil society and the international community have been invited to the discussion, which will start with a presentation of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission's recommendations.

"The OSCE Office in Baku is ready to assist the government, political parties, and civil society in Azerbaijan in their work toward improving the electoral process and bringing the conduct of elections in line with the country's OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections," said Ambassador Bilge Cankorel, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, in his opening speech.

"Given Azerbaijan's previous track record and remaining challenges in the election environment, we intend to focus our support in 2010 on such areas as political pluralism, election administration and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms." concluded Ambassador Cankorel.

The OSCE Office in Baku is planning to hold two more roundtable discussions to discuss election administration, particularly the composition of election commissions and their leadership, registration of candidates, handling of election complaints and the role of media in elections.