France, Strasburg /corr. Trend A.Maharremli, I.Alizade / The Council of Europe hopes to come to an agreement during discussions regarding the improvement of the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan which will take place on 7-8 November in Baku, a source reported to Trend from the Secretariat of the Council of Europe on 31 October.
"The round table will focus on the Electoral Code. The main issues will include the composition of commissions and consideration of and procedure of receiving complaints during the elections. If an agreement is reached on these issues during the discussions, the discussions on the Electoral Code will be complete," the same source stated.
Attended by representatives from the Venice Commission, a round table will take place in Baku on 7-8 November. The meeting will also be attended by representatives from political parties, NGOs and public unions. From the Azerbaijani side, the event will be attended by the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Mazahir Panahov, Department Chief of the Presidential Administration, Shahin Aliyev, Head of Azerbaijan Parliament's Apparat, Safa Mirzayev and others. In addition, IFES representatives are expected to join the meeting.
Yesterday (30 October) the Musavat Party, the Azerbaijan Democratic Party and the Azadlyg Bloc came to an agreement to demonstrate a single position on the amendments to the Electoral Code. The sides decided to suggest forming election commissions on a parity basis between the government and opposition. According to their proposals, half the seats in the election commissions should be taken by representatives of the government and the other half by members of Musavat Party, Azerbaijan Democratic Party, Azerbaijan Liberal Party and the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party.
The Musavat Party, Azerbaijan Democratic Party and Azadlyg Bloc made a joint statement that they will not attend the event to protest against IFES's participation in organizing the round table.
The Government of Azerbaijan considers that it does not need to make fundamental amendments to the Electoral Code and it is impossible to form election commissions on a parity base.