CE Congress of Local and Regional Authorities adopts report on observation of municipal elections in Azerbaijan.
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted a report, a resolution and a recommendation today in Strasbourg within the framework of a debate on the municipal elections held in Azerbaijan on 23 December 2009.
Official website of the Council of Europe that the report, presented by Francis Lec, Vice-president of the Conseil General of the Somme departement (France), was the result of an election observation mission carried out in Azerbaijan by a Congress delegation of elected representatives from 20 to 24 December 2009.
The report concludes that, in general, the elections were technically well prepared and took place in a calm atmosphere. However, it did raise doubts concerning the registration process and vote-counting.
The Congress expressed concern over the low level of political pluralism in the country. It reiterated its wish to also see the country establish a broad pluralism of information and release arrested journalists. In this connection, the rapporteur, Francis Lec, welcomed yesterday’s announcement of a presidential grace paving the way for the release of the editor-in-chief of the Azadlıq newspaper, Ganimat Zahid, among others.
"This is clearly a step in the right direction and I hope that we have contributed to it through the dialogue we have forged with the authorities", said Francis Lec.
In order to check that Azerbaijan carries out the necessary local and regional democracy reforms, the Congress resolution wishes its progress to be reviewed within two years at the most. The Congress also confirmed its willingness to provide assistance for implementing the necessary reforms to give the municipalities greater financial autonomy and more autonomy vis-a-vis the central authorities, as well as for the holding of the election for the post of mayor of Baku.
APA