Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. К. Ramazanova / The Council of Europe feels regret that four Azerbaijani opposition parties were in protest and did not attended at the round table dedicated to discussions of format of the Azerbaijani Election Code. "We feel regret that the opposition did not involve into discussions," Denis Bribosia, the head of the Baku office of the Council of Europe, said on 9 November.
A round table dedicated to reforming of the Election Code began in Baku on 7 November. It was organized by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (CE) and the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES). The round table involved the representatives of Azerbaijani Government, the governing and opposition parties, as well as the representatives of OSCE, CE and IFES. The key issue for discussion is re-formation of election committees.
Opposition Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA), Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), Liberal Party of Azerbaijan (LPA), and Musavat are not in attendance. They avoided participation in protest against expanded format of the event and its being organized by IFES. The parties urge only they four should participate in the discussions and election committees should include only them and the governing party.
"I feel regret that Azerbaijani opposition did not attend at the discussions but I cannot charge them. We were interested to hear a lot of ideas and proposals," Bribosia said.
The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 15 October 2008.
