Council of Europe: Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan are "immensely important"

The Council of Europe attaches immense importance to the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, Council of Europe Baku Representative Office head Veronika Kotek told journalists today.

"The council hopes that everyone will express their own decisions and choices using their own election rights during the elections," she said. "We regard these elections as very important in terms of the country's future."

Azerbaijan kicked off its parliamentary electoral campaigns on Sept. 4. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on Sept. 3 scheduling the next parliamentary elections for Nov. 7. Previous elections in the legislature were held in November 2005. In Azerbaijan, parliamentary elections are held on the majority system in 125 electoral districts.

The organization's five-people mission will visit Azerbaijan in mid-October to observe the pre-election environment, Kotek added.

"This mission will stay in the country for about three days and conduct negotiations with the government and political parties, she said.

Kotek said the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will send a monitoring mission consisting of 30 persons to observe the elections. They will arrive in the country several days before the elections.


/Trend/