Foreign monitors praise Azerbaijani presidential election
Baku, October 9 (AZERTAC). Foreign observers who monitored the presidential election in Azerbaijan have hailed its organization.
In interviews with AZERTAC`s correspondents in polling stations, they described the election as free, transparent and democratic.
Ismail Safi, chairman of the Turkish delegation to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization's Parliamentary Assembly, head of the organization`s observation mission said: “Together with our colleagues we represent four out of 12 member states of the BSEC. Azerbaijan is a democratic country which conducts democratic elections.”
Lidia Lawson, director of Independent American Center of Political Monitoring said they started the observation at 7.30 in the morning. She said they recorded no frauds or irregularities.
Turkish MPs Ansar Oyut and Ramiz Topal praised the election: “The most important feature of the election in Azerbaijan is the application of web cameras. We do not have such a practice in Turkey.”
Former ASEAN under Secretary-General Immanuel Robert Inki Wirang, who monitored the election in the polling station No 6 in Khatai district, said turnout was high after 11.00. He stressed the fact that many polling stations were equipped with web cameras. “The election was well organized.”
Davi Kirs, an international observer from Belgium, said voters freely made their choice. “We have not recorded any irregularities.”
Nikolay Patskevich, Belarus Ambassador in Baku, said he visited polling station No 36, adding “no frauds or irregularities were registered”. “Everything is good. There is no violation of law. No complaints have been received. Representatives of opposition parties were among those who monitored the voting process.”
Walter Erwin Nadler, a member of the German monitoring mission, said: “We visited a number of polling stations. The election was held in a democratic and transparent manner. We have noticed no negative facts during the observation.” Erwin Nadler stressed the fact that the majority of voters were women.
Vladimir Churov, chairman of the Russian Central Election Commission, said: “Presidential election in Azerbaijan has been organized in line with international standards. We have not witnessed any law violation in the polling stations. We visited a number of constituencies and polling stations. The elections were organized perfectly. Neither observers nor journalists face problems in their activities. The voting is going on normally.”
Jiri Mastalka, a Czech MP representing the European Parliament, said: “I haven’t noticed any irregularities, and have not event heard any complaint in the polling stations that I visited. The election took place in a normal manner.”
Tadeusz Wozniak, a member of the Polish Parliament, said: “We have not faced any problems during the monitoring of the process. We witnessed development of democracy in Azerbaijan. We visited several polling stations throughout the day, and registered no frauds.”
Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, a member of the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International, said: “We faced no negative elements. There is a transparent and democratic atmosphere.” He praised the installation of web cameras in polling stations, saying this helps ensure security. “Voter turnout is high.”
Roberto Tumbarello, representing the Council of Europe, said Azerbaijan`s Central Election Commission took all necessary measures to ensure democratic and transparent conduct of the presidential election. “The Azerbaijani election was better organized than in some European countries in terms of transparency.”
Dmitry Serov, a member of the OSCE mission, said: “The presidential election in Azerbaijan was excellently organized. It marked a high turnout. All necessary conditions were created for voters.”
Nermina Kapetanovic, a Bosnian monitor from the European Academy, and Hristina Runceva, from Macedonia, hailed voter turnout in the election. They said they had very good impressions, and noticed nothing negative.
David Podoff, an international observer from the USA, described the election as a historic and remarkable event.
Timothy Michael McGivern, a U.S. monitor, said the election was fair.
Akkan Suver, president of Marmara Group Foundation, said the election was perfectly organized.
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