POLITICS
STATEMENT OF FRANCE HOLDING EU PRESIDENCY AROUSE REGRET, NOVRUZ MAMMADOV
In response to the statement on the 15 October presidential election in Azerbaijan, made by France, the country holding EU presidency, Chief of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration`s department of international relations Novruz Mammadov said this statement aroused regret and surprised both Azerbaijani society and, to some extent, the world community. The presidential election in Azerbaijan was monitored by 1258 international observers from 59 countries. They all said in their reports that election in Azerbaijan had been conducted in a democratic, free and transparent manner. Novruzov expressed surprise over France`s acting on behalf of EU. Representatives of three EU agencies were here. Six observers represented EU itself. Observers of the EU Parliamentary Assembly, EU Council stated the election had been very well organized.
Department chief pointed out EU`s NGOs described Azerbaijani election as progress and development of young Azerbaijani state and indicator of strengthening and young Azerbaijani democracy. Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, praised presidential election in Azerbaijan. He noted the election had been very well organized, without any irregularities.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, said in her statement that election marked a considerable progress. CoE Committee of Ministers`s statement welcomed the progress in the 15 October election. The stance of OSCE and US Department of State is quite clear. They said this election was an important progress on the path to democracy. One of EU`s representatives Marie Isler Béguin said election had been held smoothly, in a well-organized manner. Mammadov pointed out, “we cannot agree and take this EU`s position. It is not a fair position”.