OSCE OFFICE IN BAKU ORGANIZES DISCUSSIONS ON ODIHR ELECTION RECOMMENDATIONS

Baku, April 8 (AzerTAc). The OSCE Office in Baku has today launched a series of roundtable discussions with political parties and civil society to follow-up the recommendations by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission in 2008.
Today`s discussion aims to increase confidence in the election process and to promote the interaction between different political parties.
Attending the event, head of the OSCE Office in Baku Ali Bilge Cankorel spoke of the work done in Azerbaijan to improve the electoral process and the country`s OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections.
ODIHR`s first deputy director Douglas Wake gave recomendations on composition of electoral comissions and how to ensure the rights of voters.
Deputy chairman, executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party Ali Ahmadov said strong legislative basis had been created in Azerbaijan to hold free, transparent and democratic elections.
Ahmadov said it was important to cooperate and conduct discussions with international organizations, but the will of people in any country solves the fate of elections.
The OSCE Office in Baku plans to hold two more roundtable discussions to discuss election administration, particularly the composition of election commissions, registration of candidates, handling of election complaints and the role of media in elections.