OSCE Office co-ordinates international community support for electoral process in Azerbaijan

BAKU, 4 September 2003 - Six weeks before the presidential election in Azerbaijan, international community representatives stressed the importance of full implementation of the basic principles of an open and equitable election process.

"These elections are vitally important for Azerbaijan and the entire region," said the Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, Robin Seaword.

"This is an opportunity for Azerbaijan to take a major step forward on the path to democracy. The Electoral Law should scrupulously be observed."

Seaword made these remarks on the occasion of the weekly meeting of international representatives in Baku to discuss all aspects of the electoral process.

The Tuesday meetings, launched by the OSCE Office, will bring together representatives of the Council of Europe and bilateral embassies of OSCE participating States in Baku. They decided to co-ordinate their support for the Azerbaijani authorities in promotion of the conditions necessary for an election that meets international standards of transparency, fairness and integrity.

During the first meeting Seaword expressed concern about reports by some Azerbaijani citizens on difficulties they have encountered in registering with the Central Election Commission as observers for the 15 October election.

"It is extremely important to ensure that all candidates can organize themselves to campaign for votes, to provide equal access to the media and to create conditions for the electorate to make its free and informed choice on election day," he said.