Baku, December 8, AZERTAC

This was stated at the final information session "Powers and Obligations of Local Executive Authorities and District Election Commissions in the course of elections".

Chief executives and chairmen of district election commissions took part in work of the session organized jointly by Administration of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic, the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the Council of Europe Baku Office.

CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov opened the session noting that in the Azerbaijan Republic there was established the tradition of carrying out free, fair and transparent elections. Thanks to the political stability established as a result of successful policy, there have been created comprehensive opportunities for elections at the high level.

Reporting that for participation in municipal elections in Azerbaijan more than 37100 candidates have been registered, CEC Chairman said: "It in comparison with the previous elections is more than 7 thousand people. The interest in municipal elections is high. It is possible to tell that 99 percent who addressed have been registered. In general, the preparatory stage was carried out at the high level, and all polling stations are completely ready to elections. On December 23, our country will adequately hold also these elections".

M. Panahov noted that the answer to the invitation letter sent to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe for participation in elections in the observer status was not received yet. The Chairman of the CEC reported that the number of local observers on present elections exceeds ten thousand. On each site, there will be three observers averagely. Eight political parties proposed candidates for membership in municipalities. In general, among the candidates there are representatives of 30 parties.

Huseyn Movsumov, Deputy Head of the Department for the Work with the Regional Administration and Local Self-Governing Bodies of the Presidential Administration informed on the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan in the sphere of democratic development, protection of human rights, formations of free society. Having noted that the election legislation was improved over the last ten years, three presidential, two parliamentary, two municipal elections and one referendum were carried out according to the international standards, the official of Presidential Administration underlined that the Azerbaijani legislation on elections on democratic character and transparency doesn't lag behind the laws adopted in the advanced countries of the world.

Mr. Movsumov said that in 1607 municipalities of Azerbaijan all necessary conditions for high level elections have been created. Compliance of district election commissions to modern requirements creates opportunity for elections at the level of the international standards. For the past period within preparation for municipal elections more attention was paid to increase of professionalism and education of the election commissions members. The work which is carried out in this sphere gives guarantees for carrying out on December 23 municipal elections at the high level.

“The system of elections in Azerbaijan has achieved notable successes”, stated Dragana Filipović, the head of the Baku Office of the Council of Europe in Azerbaijan. She approved success achieved in the country in the sphere of elections and noted importance of further improvement of these achievements.

Speaking on election experience of the countries of Europe, D. Filipovich told also about defects in electoral process. "Of course, there are disagreements during the elections in each country. In all cases, in electoral process transparency should be provided. I am convinced that the information sessions held within the joint Plan of Action in 2014-2016 of the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan will make certain contribution to this work", she emphasized.

CEC vice-chairman Natig Mammadov and the deputy head of the Council of Europe Baku Office Teymur Melikaslanov made presentations about the powers and obligations of local executive authorities and district election commissions in the course of elections.

The sessions which are the joint projects of Administration of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic, the Central Election Commission and the Council of Europe Baku Office are carried out according to the joint Plan of Action in 2014-2016s of the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan.