EU Heads support the OSCE/ODHIR interim reports on the 2010 parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan

The EU Heads of Mission to Azerbaijan support the OSCE/ODHIR interim reports on the 2010 parliamentary elections. They hope that the Azerbaijani authorities, notably the Central Election Commission (CEC) as the responsible body, will be encouraged to take the necessary corrective steps to address the findings identified in the reports. This would enable Azerbaijan to confirm to the world its commitment to political reforms, and to continue progressing on the path towards modernisation and democratisation.

The EU Heads of Mission welcome the work of the CEC and other authorities in preparation for the parliamentary election, in particular the recent decision of the Central Election Commission to provide each candidate free airtime on public TV and free space in state funded newspapers. In the last days ahead of the elections, the EU Heads of Mission encourage the relevant authorities to further promote political dialogue and pluralistic campaign environment and stand ready to provide all the necessary assistance to Azerbaijan to implement its OSCE and EU commitments.


Background

On 20th and 29th of October 2010, Election Observation Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) issued its Interim Reports on the parliamentary election process in Azerbaijan. The EU and ODIHR share the values of freedom, pluralism and transparency and both are engaged in assisting partner countries in electoral processes, including in coordinated election observation activities.


/Today.Az/