OSCE to continue to voice its initiatives to improve Azerbaijan's electoral legislation

"We will discuss the opposition's proposals on the Electoral Code with the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the government. Certainly, the process to improve laws is endless. Every law may have shortcomings," the head of OSCE's Baku Office Ali Bilge Cankorel said.

Following joint discussions between the Azerbaijani government and the CE Venice Commission prior to the presidential elections on Oct. 15, 2008, the Electoral Code was amended.

However, the amendments did not include Azerbaijani opposition's proposal concerning the formation of electoral commissions on a equal basis despite Venice Commission recommendations.

"The formation of election commissions on an equal basis is impossible in Azerbaijan, at least, under the present conditions. Political organizations and political parties permanently violate the requirements of the law and principal agreements for their own political ambitions and interests," Chief of the Social-Political Department of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov said.

Cankorel said that the OSCE supports laws in which there are minimum limitations and with which everyone is satisfied.

"We will continue our activity in this sphere," he added.

/Trend News/