The EU statement that the Azerbaijani presidential election did not meet international standards received a diverse feedback, for all other international organizations announced that the election was well organized and democratic, an Azeri official said.

"The Azeri government protests the EU statement," said Novruz Mammadov, head of international relations division at the Azeri president's administration. "This statement is disrespect for the other international observation missions."

"1258 international observers from 59 countries watched the election process and concluded that it was an advance toward democratization. Although, the absence of opposition candidates was marked as the main shortcoming, the EU statement caused surprise," Mammadov said, 1news.az reports.

Commenting on the presidential election in Azerbaijan, Chair of the EP Delegation, Mrs. Marie Anne Isler Béguin, stated: "According to our observations on Election Day, the election was well prepared and largely carried out smoothly. However, we deplore the lack of genuine competition, due to the boycott by major opposition parties and the absence of a real campaign".