AAA Concerned over Election in Azerbaijan Falling Short of Democratic Standards

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian Assembly of America today expressed concern over Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's inability to deliver on his commitments as evidenced by his government's failure to hold free and fair parliamentary elections on November 6. Aliyev's repeated promises to curb election abuses were unmet according to Western election observers, who said the voting was fraught with serious violations. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said that on election day, observers witnessed "attempts to influence voters choices, unauthorized persons interfering in, or directing, the process, as well as ballot stuffing." The U.S. government also criticized the election process and issued a press statement that said in part: "We will urge the government of Azerbaijan to make immediate investigations into these irregularities and fraud, consistent with Azerbaijan's laws, institutions and election legislation."



"I have serious concerns that the latest round of parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan did not meet several OSCE commitments and Council of Europe standards," said Armenian Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Joe Knollenberg (R-MI). "After disenfranchising its citizens and falling well short of keeping its promises to the international community to hold a fair and transparent presidential election in October 2003, the government of Azerbaijan again missed an opportunity to advance democratic principles and to ensure that the most recent election was conducted in a credible manner." "When democratic reform comes to Azerbaijan it will help ensure regional stability for the South Caucasus," said Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian. "Aliyev succeeded his father as president two years ago and in that time has demonstrated his refusal to break from his father's life-long reputation as an authoritarian and corrupt leader," the AAA told PanARMENIAN.Net