On November 7, the President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev has given in the Presidential Palace of interview to the Azerbaijan TV in connection with elections to Milli Majlis. AZERTAC brings to attention of readers the text of the given interview.

Q. Dear Mr. President, elections to Milli Majlis of the Azerbaijan Republic have come to an end. First of all, it would be desirable to learn your opinion on the pre-election situation.

A. As you know, several months ago, on May 11, I have signed the Order for democratic elections in Azerbaijan. According to the Order should find the solution questions of improvement of election practice in Azerbaijan. At that time, I hoped, and today I see, that our hopes were justified. The Order signed by me on the Election Code has created necessary conditions for carrying out of democratic elections in Azerbaijan. The various innovations which are not having earlier the place in practice of Azerbaijan have been entered, they have created conditions for normal carrying out of election process.

As you know, there was not any problem in questions of registration. Registrations have passed more than 2 thousand candidates. Besides agitation-and-propaganda campaign was also successful. For all candidates, have been created equal conditions. On the one hand, meetings with voters, and with another, - on various tele-channels, including on the state and public TV have been carried out, the paid and free-of-charge broadcasting time was allocated. In a word, to each candidate conditions for normal carrying out of election campaign have been created, and everyone has taken advantage of the opportunities.

Despite of it, approximately 10 days prior to elections I have signed the next Order. As you know, for democratic elections we fruitfully enough cooperate with the international organizations, under their recommendation a number of additional steps have been undertaken. Including, has found the reflection the question of drawing on fingers inking. I have gone and on it, have made also it that last doubts have vanished. Thus, all conditions for normal, fair elections have been created. Day of elections, as a whole, has passed quite easy and the elections were free and fair. It is possible to tell that about half of Azerbaijan voters have taken part in elections and have openly expressed the will. As a whole, election process, the period previous to elections, were successful. I think, that day of elections also was successful, and the opportunity for carrying out in Azerbaijan normal, democratic elections was presented.

Q. Mr. President and how you regard results of elections?

A. I think positive are and the results. I always spoke, I repeat and today, that the main thing that as a result of elections the will of Azerbaijan people has found the reflection. Preliminary results of elections allow speaking about it. The general atmosphere was very positive, and the result testifies that Azerbaijan people in transparent conditions, has freely voted for the candidates and has chosen the most worthy. I want to repeat that for normal elections all conditions have been created, elections were watched by numerous foreign observers, thousand local observers. As a whole, results completely reflect will of Azerbaijan people. I am very glad to that representatives of the Yeni Azerbaijan Party very successfully participated in elections and have won. At the same time, at elections representatives of other political spectrum, including independent candidates have shown fine results. Elections represent extremely great value for democratic development of Azerbaijan. Therefore, we paid to elections huge attention, as has found the reflection in normal elections.

At the same time, according to some information, in day of elections the certain infringements of the law took place. As I was informed, in several districts, somewhere in 7-8 districts, there were infringements of the law. Now, these infringements are investigated. The corresponding instruction is given to the Office of Public Prosecutor in the strictest order to investigate the given infringements of the law. There, where abusing service position took place, persons will be involved in the administrative responsibility. There, where the facts of criminal character took place, the persons who have made it, naturally, should and will be instituted criminal proceedings. Within several months, we used the best efforts for normal elections, and the moments listed by me, questions testify also that intention of authority and the President of Azerbaijan consist in fair elections. Therefore, I cannot allow, that any official by virtue of the arbitrariness made by him, any illegal intervention have damaged the general results of elections.

Once again I want to note, that it is not enough similar facts. We have messages causing concern on 7-8 districts. In other districts - that is somewhere in 115, and it is possible, and more districts - results of elections do not cause any doubt. I want to add also, that, as you know, one more innovation at elections consist that has been stipulated exit poll. It was carried out by the various organizations, including the American company “PA Consulting”. Today, I have looked their results on the Internet and was convinced that these results, is possible to tell, for 90 percent coincide with preliminary results of the Central Election Commission. That is, it testifies that real results prove to be true and exit poll. It also shows that elections in Azerbaijan have passed in transparent conditions, and interventions in election process were insignificant. But they were, that, certainly, causes our concern. On the other hand, certainly, the question of improvement of election practice is not solved one order or one election campaign. It needs certain time. Does not cause doubt and that all done work allowed to carry out elections in normal conditions.

As a whole, results of elections in overwhelming majority of cases have reflected will of Azerbaijan people. There, where infringement of the law took place, certainly, the given questions will be investigated and as I have noted, the Office of Public Prosecutor will take strict measures.

As you know, mission of the international observers also has presented the imprisonment before trail. We shall analyze this conclusion. We long years fruitfully enough cooperate with the international organizations. Their opinion is important for us. Within several months before elections it was very fruitful, in business conditions with the OSCE and other international organizations, the international institutes engaged in human rights worked with the Council of Europe. We hope that this cooperation will continue and henceforth. Therefore, certainly, their opinion also will be taken into account, the moments reflected in the preliminary report, will be seriously analyzed and accepted strict measures. I want to congratulate once again all Azerbaijan people on the occasion of normal, fair elections. These last months all of us thought of how will pass elections. Including and me, as normal, fair elections becomes big my support as the President, the further activity.

I did not doubt of successful elections, and all international interrogations of opinions testified that chances of representatives of the Yeni Azerbaijan Party, including other representatives supporting authority, are most preferable. It has shown as the interrogations of the opinion which has been carried out in Azerbaijan, and interrogations of opinions of the known international organizations. Results of elections have evidently confirmed it. Therefore, the elections in democratic conditions open the new opportunities, new horizons in front of Azerbaijan. We also shall pay henceforth the big attention to process of democratization. Acceleration of political processes, strengthening of democratic development in Azerbaijan represents extremely great value for all-around development of our country. I repeatedly marked and I want to repeat, that our remarkable economic achievements, successes, our further economic prospects are directly connected to development of democracy in Azerbaijan. Our main task is creation in Azerbaijan a civil society, a free society.

Therefore, as the President, I am very glad and pleased with that the present stage also has come to an end successfully. Azerbaijan people have told the word at elections, in open, fair, free conditions has voted for the candidates. Thus, Azerbaijan has entered a new stage in the democratic development. I hope, that the re-elected parliament and deputies of parliament will do the utmost for democratic development of Azerbaijan, our country will develop even more intensively and will turn in the powerful state.