Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 16 / Trend , A.Huseynbala/
An Azerbaijani opposition party has developed proposals to amend the Election Code.
"Some parts of the proposals can be submitted to the Council of Europe Venice Commission. But we think the commission should publicize its position not on the basis of the proposals from the government and opposition, but rather in line with universal principles," Musavat party Central Executive head Arif Hajili told Trend on Feb. 16.
The Council of Europe Venice Commission is prepared to take the government's and opposition's proposals into account while amending the Election Code, the organization's Secretary General Sergey Kuznetsov told Trend earlier.
The government will discuss amendments to the Election Code with the Venice Commission, Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Safa Mirzoyev told Trend earlier.
The Election Code was amended in early June 2008 after joint discussions between the government and Council of Europe Venice Commission. The amendments did not include forming election commissions on a parity basis as the opposition hoped. Several Azerbaijani opposition parties refused to partake in the elections on Oct. 15 as a protest against the Election Code.
Hajili said the Venice Commission operates slowly on this matter.
"But regardless, we are ready to cooperate with the organization to amend and change the Election Code," the Musavat member said.
The Musavat party was founded in Baku in 1911. The party's was relaunched on Nov. 7, 1992. Isa Gambar was elected chief of the party. Gambar was parliamentary speaker in 1992-1993. He ran in the 2003 presidential elections. The party has four members in the parliament.
"Before last year's presidential elections, the Azadlig bloc and opposition submitted proposals to the Venice Commission to amend and change the Election Code," National Front Party of Azerbaijan (NFPA) Deputy Chairman Hasan Karimov told Trend on Feb. 16.
The commission's representatives repeatedly said the opposition's proposals will be taken into account while discussing the Election Code with governmental bodies, he said.
"Unfortunately, our proposals were not taken into consideration while amending the legislation," the NFPA official said.
"We believe the Venice Commission will take our proposals into account at this time," he added.
The Azadlig bloc comprises three opposition parties, including the NFPA, Liberal Party and Citizen and Development Party.
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