IEOM WITH OSCE/ODIHR, PACE AND EP ISSUE STATEMENT OF PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS ON ELECTIONS

IEOM WITH OSCE/ODIHR, PACE AND EP ISSUE STATEMENT OF PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS ON ELECTIONS

The International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) with OSCE/ODIHR, PACE and European Parliament issued joint statement of preliminary findings and conclusions on presidential elections in Azerbaijan on October 15, 2008, APA reports.

The statement covers that the election is assessed for its compliance with OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards for democratic elections, as well as Azerbaijani national legislation.

This statement of preliminary findings and conclusions is delivered prior to the completion of the election process. The final assessment of the election will depend, in part, on the conduct of the remaining stages of the election process, including the tabulation and announcement of results and the handling of possible post-election day complaints or appeals. The OSCE/ODIHR will issue a comprehensive final report, including recommendations for potential improvements, approximately two months after the completion of the election process. The delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will present its report at the next plenary session.

The statement reads that the elections marked considerable progress toward meeting OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and other international standards but did not meet all commitments. The election process was carried out in a peaceful manner, but was characterized by a lack of robust competition and of vibrant political discourse facilitated by media, and thus did not reflect all the principles of a meaningful and pluralistic democratic election. Regrettably, some opposition parties boycotted the election, citing longstanding obstacles to equal opportunities, thus further limiting the scope for a credible choice for the electorate.

Overall, the Central Election Commission (CEC) organized the election in an efficient manner, held frequent sessions which were open to the media and observers, published its decisions on its website, and carried out a large-scale voter education campaign and comprehensive training of election officials.

The authorities made some effort to create more equitable conditions for all candidates;
nevertheless, the dominant coverage of the incumbent in the electronic media, as well as some instances of a confluence of the ruling party with official structures, did not serve to create a level playing field. The incumbent decided not to campaign personally, stating his wish to give other candidates more opportunities. The other candidates commanded little apparent public support, and furthermore mostly lacked national campaign structures to effectively present alternative views to the voters.

While candidates were able to convey their messages without major impediments, in some regions few or no campaign activities were noted, other than those of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP).

There was limited coverage of the campaign in the news programs of the major TV channels.

Election Day was generally calm and peaceful. IEOM observer reports indicate a high voter turnout.

Opening procedures were assessed positively in 88 per cent of polling stations visited. Procedural shortcomings were frequently noted, including failure to record the serial number of ballot box seals.

IEOM observers assessed the voting process as good or very good in 94 per cent of polling stations visited and overall described it as well organized and efficient. PECs’ and voters’ understanding of procedures was assessed positively.

The statement also reads that recent amendments to the Election Code partially addressed previous recommendations, in particular provisions regarding the inking of voters, transparency of voter lists, and prohibitions on interference in the election process, regular debates on Public TV and Radio provided an opportunity for candidates to present their message to voters, although the absence of the incumbent lessened the value of these debates for voters;

Prior to the start of the campaign, the President ordered that official portraits and billboards featuring him be removed throughout the country and stressed the need to guarantee equal campaign conditions for all candidates;

The campaign was conducted in an atmosphere free of violence;

Interference by authorities in the work of the election administration appeared to be reduced;

Voter lists were available for public inspection within the legal deadlines. No serious problems or inaccuracies in the voter lists were reported; Transparency of the process was enhanced by the accreditation of a large number of domestic non-party and international observers.

However, the following additional shortcomings were noted:

The composition of election commissions does not enjoy broad confidence among political parties, despite repeated and longstanding recommendations to address this issue; recent amendments to the Election Code did not fully address some outstanding concerns, including with regard to candidate registration, media coverage, and complaints and appeals procedures.

The Baku executive authorities denied a request by the opposition parties not participating in the election to conduct an outdoor meeting in the center of Baku; The organization of military voting was not fully subject to the oversight of the election administration; Although there were few complaints, the CEC did not decide on all complaints within legal deadlines.

The IEOM wishes to thank the authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the invitation to observe the election, the Central Election Commission for providing accreditation documents, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other State and local authorities for their assistance and cooperation.

Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva-APA

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