OSCE welcomes registration of all political parties in Azerbaijan

BAKU, 10 October 2000 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) welcomes the decision by the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan to register all political parties for the proportional ballot. Several political parties had previously had their applications rejected.

"This decision ensures a broad participation of all political parties at this stage of the electoral process in the 5 November parliamentary elections", said OSCE/ODIHR Director Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann. "We hope that a similar decision will be applied to all candidates who have been unduly denied registration in single mandate constituencies."

The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission to Azerbaijan will continue to monitor closely the registration process. A final assessment of the entire process will be provided following the completion of the appeal procedures.

For further information contact Nikolai Vulchanov, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission to Azerbaijan, Ing Lab 119/1, 37 0078 Baku, Azerbaijan, tel: (+994 12) 90 63 71/72, fax: (+994 12) 90 63 74, or Nicolas Kaczorowski, ODIHR Election Officer, Warsaw, tel: (+48-22) 520 06 00, fax: (+48-22) 628 69 67.