POLITICS
COE OBSERVERS PRAISE DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN AZERBAIJAN
Baku, December 9 (AZERTAC). Observers of the Council of Europe`s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities have hailed the Azeri government`s efforts to strengthen democracy in the country. The monitors met Justice Minister Fikrat Mammadov on the first day of their pre-electoral visit to Azerbaijan aimed at inspecting preparatory work ahead of municipal elections set for December 23.
The European observers particularly hailed what the government had been doing to develop the activity of municipalities.
The monitors told the Azeri minister they closely inspected the preparatory work for the election, and hoped it would be “free, fair and transparent”.
Mammadov said bringing Azerbaijan`s election system to international standards was among the government`s key priorities.
The minister praised the country`s cooperation with international organizations.
“We are closely and effectively working with the Council of Europe and other organizations to improve our electoral legislation.”
The COE delegation includes parliamentarians Gaya Doganoglu from Turkey, Nigel Mermagen from the United Kingdom, Istvan Borbely from Hungary, Dobrica Milovanovic from Serbia and Gudrun Mosler-Tornstrom from Austria.