Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend E. Guliyev / The Azerbaijani government and opposition began discussions on reforms in the elections law through the mediation of the Council of Europe's (CE) Venice Commission, Arif Hajilli, the head of the Executive Administration of the oppositional Musavat party said on 5 October.
According to Hajili, with the mediation provided by the CE Venice Commission, a meeting of leaders of the country's various political parties will be held on 9 November to introduce changes in the elections legislation.
Representatives of Azerbaijan's political parties were called to the CE Baku office on 5 October. Despite the invitation, the governmental parties did not participate in the meeting. Huseyn Pashayev, the Spokesman for the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, said that his party did not receive any invitation.
The meeting targeted preparations for further discussion of the elections legislation, Hajili said. The Council of Europe informed the political representatives about issues to be discussed on 9 November.
According to Hajili, the formation of elections commissions on a parity basis remains on the agenda. Musavat gives its preference to this discussion," he said.
"The government does not agree with the formation of elections commissions on a parity basis. Therefore, the major objective of the opposition parties is to focus on it," Hajili said.