Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. I.Alizadeh / The ruling New Azerbaijan Party considers fruitful and important the results of the discussions held in Baku by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (CE) and the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES). "The number of proposals on upgrade of election legislation and formation of election commissions coincides. Therefore, we cannot take into consideration all proposals concerning formation of election commissions," MP Ali Ahmadov, the executive secretary of the party, said in the interview with journalists on 12 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.
"New Azerbaijan does not want Azerbaijan to become an area of political test. The formation of election commissions as well as the elections is the internal affairs of country. As population decide the course of each election," the MP said.
There have been attempts to change the current format of election commissions since 1998 by some internal political parties and international organizations. "Every time they propose new proposals to change the existed format of election commissions. Such a situation cause serious obstacles to establish the Azerbaijani election legislation," Ahmadov said.
The New Azerbaijan party was founded by Heydar Aliyev ex-President of Azerbaijan in 1992.