Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 2
By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:
Some aspects of holding the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan can be applied in Australia, the head of the observer mission from Australia Luke Simpkins said.
He made the remarks Nov. 2 at a press conference in Baku on the results of the parliamentary election.
He said that on the voting day, the Australian delegation visited some 20 polling stations in different districts of Baku and Azerbaijan.
"During the mission, we met with both other observers and voters," said Simpkins. "Some points we witnessed during the election in Azerbaijan can be applied in Australia. For example, if participation in election is voluntary in Azerbaijan, it is mandatory in Australia."
Another delegation member David Johnston said that there haven't been any complaints to any violations at any of nine polling stations he visited.
"The election was fair, transparent, in line with democratic standards," said Johnston.
Azerbaijan held its parliamentary election Nov. 1. As many as 767 candidates ran for 125 seats in the country's parliament. The election was monitored by 503 international observers from 40 organizations and over 66,000 local observers.
Following the election, many foreign observers, analysts and experts pointed out the transparency, openness and smooth voting process at the election, as well as high voter turnout.
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