Official says ODIHR overlooks own duties by refusing to attend Azerbaijan's election

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 3

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

The OSCE/ODIHR's refusal to observe the Nov. 1 parliamentary election in Azerbaijan can't be explained rationally, said Ali Ahmadov, Azerbaijan's deputy prime minister, and deputy chairman - executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.

He made the remarks Nov. 3 during an interview with the 'Azerbaijan' newspaper.

Ahmadov, noting that the ODIHR's task is to monitor the elections in the OSCE countries, said the ODIHR rejecting to observe the Azerbaijani election refused to fulfil its direct duties.

"If a country invites the OSCE/ODIHR to monitor an election, then the organization has no reason to refuse to do that," he said. "As the head of [Azerbaijani] state said, doing so they [the ODIHR] waive their mandate."

Ahmadov noted that, unfortunately, it is needed to highlight some international organizations' as well as the ODIHR's tradition of using elections and election observation missions as a means of political pressure, which is absolutely unacceptable.

"In some cases, the dispatch of an observer mission for elections is regarded as an opportunity to seek something negative in certain countries," he added.

Ahmadov said that there should be put an end to the tradition of using elections or observation as a tool of pressure.

He said such an assessment of the ODIHR's actions is not only Azerbaijan's initiative, adding that other countries also witness unpleasant moments in this structure's activities.

However, ODIHR's refusal to observe the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan couldn't undermine the public importance of this election, according to Ahmadov.

He pointed out that a large number of international observers participated in Azerbaijan's parliamentary election.

"I think that they were convinced that the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan was held in accordance with international standards, the country's law and democratic principles," said Ahmadov.

The deputy prime minister added that the international observers, who came to Azerbaijan, saw that the country's citizens have an opportunity to freely express their will.

"Azerbaijan is a democratic country and all the processes, including the political process, the election campaign are open and transparent here," said Ali Ahmadov.