Members of OSCE long-term Observation Mission, which will observe presidential elections in Azerbaijan on October 15, have been sent to Azerbaijan’s regions, CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov provided information, APA reports.
To him, OSCE observers have been sent to Baku, Absheron (3), Sumgait, Guba, Shamakhi, Gandja (2), Barda, Imishli, Shirvan, Lankaran, Shaki, Nakhchivan. Groups will observe election process in polling stations in regions.
He stated that CEC would cooperate with observers. Panahov appealed to OSCE observers and asked them to appeal to CEC on shortcomings.
“We will solve these problems immediately. I do not think that there can be serious problems and we will not be able to solve it. Members of commission, who cause problems, violate laws, will be punished”, he said. /APA/

The Central Election Commission (CEC) registered Chairman of All Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (BAXCP) Gudrat Hasanguliyev as a presidential candidate. The decision was passed at the CEC meeting Thursday, APA reports. Hasanguliyev submitted 44 166 signatures collected from 84 electoral districts and 41 125 of them were considered reliable, CEC Secretary Natig Mammadov told APA.
CEC refused to register the candidate of “Green Policy” initiative group Mais Gulaliyev. Mammadov said Gulaliyev submitted 44 886 signatures, but 7686 of them were considered by CEC working group as unreliable. His reliable signatures were less than demanded 40 000. Gulaliyev gave no detailed information about his incomes and property. He did not declare about his car VAZ-21011.
CEC member Ramiz Ibrahimov said self-nominated candidate Arif Aliyev asked to accept his signatures despite he submitted them not in time – on September 5 until 18.00. CEC members considered his appeal as groundless. /APA/

The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC) calls on the citizens, who have not an opportunity to vote in the permanent area of their registration, to appeal to the district and divisional election commission to be included in the election lists.
“Maybe the citizen does not live in the area of the election district where his name was included, but it does not mean that condition should not be created for the voting of those citizens,” the CEC Chairman, Mazahir Panahov, briefed the media on 11 September.
Panahov said that appealing to the district election stations by 20 September, the citizens can get registered in the election lists in the area where they live currently. And three days prior to the voting, appealing to the divisional election commissions, the citizens can get into registration in the election station of the territory where they live currently.
“For this, the citizens do not need to appeal to the district election commissions, where they are in permanent registration. It is satisfactory to appeal to the district election commissions of the territory where they live currently. The district election commissions will send information on the citizens to each other,” Panahov added.
Several opposition parties stated that their members have not been named in the election lists and it was mentioned that if the names of those electors are presented to the CEC, they will be included in the election lists.
Panahov said that the election posters should be hung in the dense places of citizens, railway and bus stations and other places available for people. “We should hang the posters in a way not damaging the historical buildings,” he said. /Trend/
CIS Observation Mission to cover all election districts in Azerbaijani presidential elections: CIS executive secretary
CIS observation mission will cover all election districts in the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan.
“The observation will cover all 125 election districts. The CIS mission will include 250-300 long-term and short-term observers,” Sergey Lebedov, executive secretary of CIS said to TrendNews by telephone from Moscow on 11 September. The presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held on 15 October.
Headquarters of CIS observation mission is expected to be opened in Baku on 16 September. Headquarters of the mission may set up branches in Ganja, Lankaran, Nakhchivan and Khachmaz, Lebedev said.
CIS mission will be sent to Azerbaijan at the invitation of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry to observe presidential elections.
Council of permanent representatives of CIS member states at the regulatory and other bodies of the Organization has approved nomination of executive secretary as a head of observation mission.
According to Lebedev, observation mission of CIS will include observers from its member states. “We have already invited CIS states. The mission will include observers from regions of Russia, Inter-Parliament Assembly of CIS, Parliament Assembly of Union of Belarus and Russia and also representatives of CIS embassies in Azerbaijan.
The observers are expected to visit election districts, to monitor mass media reports on the activities of presidential candidates, study election legislation, to hold meetings with heads of the bodies responsible for examining complaints and statements related violations during voting, he said. On 16 October, head of CIS mission will make a final statement on the results of the elections.
So far, the CEC has confirmed nomination of the chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party Ilham Aliyev, the chairman of the Umid Party Igbal Agazade, the chairman of the Muasir Musavat Party Hafiz Hajiyev and the chairman of the Great Establishment Party Fazil Gazanfaroglu. /Trend/

The members of the Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan (ACSDA) met with the Azerbaijan Republic Presidential Elections Observation Mission of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Vali Alibayov, the vice president from ACSDA and Ambassador Boris Frlets, the Mission head, Fransin Beri, Mission’s legal assistant and Rumen Maleyev, the analyzer on elections from OSCE/ODIHR participated in the meeting. Speaking about aims and duties of the Mission, B. Frlets stated that the Mission doesn’t concern about who will win the elections. They will only control if the election process meets OSCE’s principles. The Ambassador stated that Azerbaijan possesses a good legislation basis for holding transparent and democratic elections. The Ambassador was interested in ACSDA’s plans related to the presidential elections. He asked if the observers in regions and villages will be local or from other regions.
The ACSDA representative stated that the observers are local as usual. The ambassador appraised it and emphasized that it’s necessary to prevent local executive bodies to put pressure upon local observers.
The Ambassador also took interest on some other issues related to the further plans of ACSDA related to the forthcoming presidential elections.
The members of the Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan Election Headquarters (ACSDA EH) held another meeting in OSCE Baku office. The head of the ACSDA EH Maharram Zulfugarli met with Julian Markard-Narten and Maryam Haji-Ismayilova, the senior officials of OSCE Baku office. M. Zulfugarli gave broad information about ACSDA’s activity on the sphere of civil society development, and the works realized related to forthcoming presidential elections. He also informed the OSCE officials about the election enlightenment, monitoring of the elections, exit poll and quick count operations to be realized by the EH. Besides, M. Zulfugarli talked about the results of the trainings, held in 12 regions from 15 August through 2 September, 2008.
Juliane Markard-Narten gave broad information about the works planned by OSCE Baku office related to the forthcoming presidential elections. She stressed that they are open to any cooperation related to the election monitoring and election enlightenment. The books published by both of the organizations, related to the presidential election were distributed among the attendees at the end of the meeting.

ACSDA Press Service

Several events occurred in the political life of Azerbaijan from 16 through 31 August. That is, the list of the mass media to conduct free campaign for presidential contenders was defined.
These are the following:
Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, newspapers: “Azerbaijan”, “Khalg Gazeti”, “Republic”, and “Bakinski Rabochiy”.
Candidacies of Arif Hasangulu oghlu Aliyev, Ali Isa Haji oghlu Agayev and Fikrat Tagi oghlu Ahadov nominated on their own initiative in Presidential Elections of the Republic of Azerbaijan appointed on October 15, 2008 were approved by CEC. Candidacy of Fazil Mustafayev nominated by Great Establishment Party was also approved by CEC.
CEC expands cooperation with international organizations on the eve of the presidential elections. The Election Code will be translated into English on this purpose.
To secure transparency, Central Election Commission (CEC), Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) have today held training for the employees of election constituencies responsible for applications and complaints on the theme “Rules of considering applications and complaints”.
Central Election Commission published de-registration cards. Distribution of the card to the constituencies was finished. According to the Election Code de-registration cards must be presented to constituencies at least 50 days prior to the voting day and to the polling stations at least 25 days prior to the voting day. Formation of pre-elections coalition of opposition parties was discussed in the meeting of Musavat Party. Discussions over the activity of “Democratic Election Center” involving 9 parties were commenced. The reason is that some parties chose the way of boycotting, while some participate in elections with their candidates.
First week of the monitoring activities carried out by “Election 2008” NGO Coalition on presidential election to be held on October 15, 2008 came to an end. Monitoring to be realized till the end of October will be conducted in total in 15 governmental, oppositional and independent mass media means functioning in the country. Newspapers “Azerbaijan”, “Iki sahil”, “Yeni Azerbaycan”, “Yeni Musavat”, “Azadliq”, “Bizim yol”, “525-ci qezet”, “Sherq” and “Zerkalo” will be monitored during the monitoring. Besides, monitoring will cover the websites “mediaforum.az” and “lent.az” including AzTV, ITV, Leader TV and ANS TV channels.
Council of Europe and “Yeni Nesil” Journalists’ Union hold a conference “Media and elections: Democratic commitment of media” in Baku. The conference is held within the framework of the joint project of the Council of Europe and European Commission “Moldova and South Caucasus – support to free and fair elections”. Parliamentarians, editors, journalists, nongovernmental organizations, analysts, foreign and local experts attend the conference.
Joint Working Group on Realization of International Standards for Human Rights in Azerbaijan announced opinions and suggestions on the recommendations by Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and OSCE/ODIHR related to the appendices and amendments made to 145 articles of Election Code.
The office of CIS Observation Mission that will follow the presidential elections in Azerbaijan on October 15 will be officially opened on September 16. three members of the office would start work on September 14, later other members of the office, as well as the observers accredited from CIS embassies in Baku would join the process and the number of long-term observers will reach 25-30. 250 people are expected to observe the elections on the day of voting.
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) started to operate in Azerbaijan as a certification body on “ratification of rules for recognition and applying of international and inter-state standards, norms and recommendations in Azerbaijan”.
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) gave 20 new wells to the balance of Boring Office in “Neft Dahslari” oilfield. But the transportation of oil via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan was ceased temporarily as the result of the fire on the BV30 section of the BTC pipeline in Turkey in the morning on Aug. 6. And from August 21, the transportation of oil produced in “Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli” oilfield dot in Azerbaijani part of the Caspian Sea, via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan was restarted. Presently, the oil is transported in limited volume and rarely. The complete transportation of oil will be reinstated after the test works finish. Besides, the SOCAR made an agreement on transportation of oil via Iran area to world market, in order to compensate the delay appeared in oil exportation because of events in Georgia and temporary cease in BTC. According to the agreement, some 300 000 ton oil of Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli oilfields will be transported from Sanagachal terminal to Iran’s Neka port via the Caspian Sea. And Iran will export this oil from Persian Gulf. State Committee for Securities under the Auspices of the President of Azerbaijan set state registration for AZN 10 mln. shares of “Accord Reconstruction-Industry” OJSC and AZN 1 mln. shares of “Gala Insuranse” OJSC.
According to the strategy of regions’ socio-economic development, a two-storey business center consisting of 33 private shops was opened in Nakhchivan. 110 persons were employed in fruit market with 68 seats, and a cafe with 80 seats.
A decree was signed on “the state program on reliable food supply of population in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2008-2015”. Basic part of minimum wages and age pensions was increased in Azerbaijan. According to the order, the minimum wage has been raised by 25 percent and is set at AZN 75 as from September 1.

200 local observers have been registered at the Central Election Commission (CEC) for observing the October 15 presidential elections, CEC Press Service told APA. 16 observers represent the Young Patriots Union and others are independent observers.
District election commissions have also started registration of the observers. CEC said observers registered at the district commissions would monitor voting only in the polling stations of that district, but observers registered at CEC had right to observe voting process throughout the country. /APA/

Azerbaijani Interior Minister General-Colonel Ramil Usuibov met on September 10 with the head of the OSCE observation mission Boris Frlec and Security Expert of the mission Emil Payric. Press Service of the Interior Ministry told APA Minister Usubov noted that strengthening of state independence and democratic principles, strong state-building process, improvement of legal mechanisms regulated public relations were successfully developing in Azerbaijan under the leadership of the country’s president. Significant work has been done for establishing of Interior Ministry’s activity according the international norm and standards within the large-scale social, economic and democratic-legal reforms carried out in the country. New laws based on the democratic principles, human rights and freedoms have been adopted.

Then the visitors have been informed about the police’s duties during the preparations for presidential elections in Azerbaijan October 2008 and the works done in this field.

The visitors have also been informed that international experts Richard Tall and Ari Bloyd held trainings at the Interior Ministry’s Police Academy on September 8 for the top officers of Baku, Sumgayit and Absheron police offices. Analogical training is held in Lankaran today. It is considered to hold trainings in Goychay as well.
Interior Minister Ramil Usubov added that according to the Law on Freedom of Assembly, Baku Executive Power allocated 11 places in all districts of the capital for the meetings. Such places were allocated in all cities and regions of the republic.
The head of the OSCE observation mission Boris Frlec thanked for detailed information and expressed satisfaction with the dynamic development process in Azerbaijan. He informed about the work and duties of his mission. /APA/

Two Azerbaijani opposition parties –National Unity Party of Unified Azerbaijan (NUPA) and National Front Party of Unified Azerbaijan (NFPUA), signed an agreement on cooperation.
The document envisages the cooperation during the presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections in Azerbaijan and joint participation to hold democratic elections, as well as to form legitimate authority in the country. The agreement is signed by the party chairmen Hajibaba Azimov and Gudrat Hasanguliyev in the news-centre of the Trend News company.
Under the agreement, NUPA will support Hasanguliyev’s candidature in the forthcoming presidential elections. If Hasanguliyev will win the elections, NUPA representatives will be represented in the presidential administration.
The parties will also nominate joint candidates in parliamentary and municipal elections. /Trend/

Baku education employees will support country’s current President Ilham Aliyev at the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Baku education employees support the political course of the chairman of the governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), Head of the Baku Education Department Naila Rzaguliyeva said at a meeting dedicated to the beginning of a new academic year on 10 September.
A total of 226 general schools and 50 educational institutions in Baku employ 33,491 people. /Trend/

Coalition set up by opposition forces boycotting presidential elections in Azerbaijan will not be able to change election situation and influence its outcome.
“But this policy will be continued after presidential elections. Municipality elections will follow presidential elections and set up of coalition is of great significance for the opposition after 2008,” editor-in-chief of pro-opposition Musavat newspaper Rauf Arifoglu said to TrendNews.
Though Classic Popular Front Party took part in the meetings to work out the document, it did not sign it.
Arifoglu said the coalition was set up late. Recently, party Musavat, Popular Front and Classic Popular Front Party offered to set up union of opposition. “But I offered to set up union not to boycott elections, but to take part in it,” he said.
It is important to expand coalition to make it more efficient. This is first step taken to create union of opposition. It would be better if several organizations possessing real structures and well-known public figures joined this coalition, Arifoglu said.
He added new coalition must appeal authorities until presidential elections to stage mass demonstrations. There are offices of a coalition all over the country including Baku.
“It would be better for leaders of the organizations included in the union to visit regions. It would pave a way for a new process. It this is carried out, it will be possible to attract voters and to turn it into an organization,” said editor-in-chief. /Trend/

There are disagreements amongst Azerbaijani opposition parties on places to hold mass actions.
Presidential candidature Fazil Gazanfaroglu, the chairman of the Great Establishment Party (GEP) does not think that places allocated by the Baku City Administration to hold mass actions, are far from the centre of the city. “There are places with normal conditions within the precincts of a city in the list of places allocated for assembly. Organizer of actions can assemble enough supporters at these places,” Gazanfaroglu told Trend News on 10 September.
In accordance with the Law on Freedom of Assembly, the Baku City Administration specified addresses of places to hold demonstrations in districts of the capital city.
According to Gazanfaroglu, monitoring should be organized to solve problems of technical provision to hold mass actions in the places allocated with this respect: “Political parties and representatives of the non-governmental organizations (NGO) should develop a reference on these places. References will clarify opportunity to hold mass demonstrations at the places. Afterwards, unambiguous opinion can be formed on success of these places.”
The GEP chairman stated that the party would hold mass actions in Baku and regions of the country during pre-elections campaign. “We are not interested in holding mass actions at places, which are not allocated for mass actions, because we will hold mass actions not to break out clashes, but to gain votes of people,” Gazanfaroglu said.
Ali Aliyev, the co-chairman of Azadlig bloc and the chairman of the Citizen and Development Party (CDP), believes that new places allocated by the Baku City Administration, do not differ from the previous places.
“Objective of mass actions is to draw public attention to existing problems. Allocating places for mass actions beyond the city is to minimize importance of mass actions and to prevent organizers to publicize their positions and aim of actions for the public,” Aliyev told Trend News.
According to Aliyev, opposition political organizations signing joint declaration will hold discussions on holding mass actions. “Decision to hold mass demonstrations will depend on character of period of the pre-elections campaign,” he said.
Political organizations signing joint document do not intend to hold mass demonstrations at the new allocated places, the CDP chairman said. “If mass actions are hold at a distance, they will not be brought to the public attention. I think that it is suitable to hold mass actions at places near to centre, where people can come there easily,” Aliyev said.
On 5 September the parties included in Azadlig bloc the (the Popular Front Party, the Liberal Party and the Citizen and Development), the Musavat Party and the Public Forum ‘For Azerbaijan’ signed a joint statement on recognition of the presidential elections to be held on 15 October as illegitimate. Authorities, which will be formed after the presidential elections, are announced as illegitimate in the statement. /Trend/

Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan will conduct an exit poll at the presidential elections to take place in the country on 15 October, Association’s representatives said at a press conference at the Trend News Company International Press Centre on 10 September.
The exit poll will be conducted by ELS Independent Research Centre. Head of the Centre Irada Yagubova said the poll will cover 500 districts in 125 constituencies.
According to Yagubova, the exit poll will use transparent ballot-boxes. Anonymity of the voters will be provided. The results will be systematically conveyed to the central election headquarters. Approximately in eight hours after completion, the results of the exit poll will be placed on the websites of the Association www.azerbaijan-election.net and www.avciya.az.
ELS will also conduct Quick Count (quick counting of votes), which will enable comparing the results of the voting with the results of exit poll.
On 11 September, ELS will commence trainings for 1,000 interviewers, who will conduct parallel vote counting, all over the country.
Chairman of Association’s election headquarters Maharram Zulfugarli stated that the organization will fulfill the observation mission within the frames of the international standards. According to him the Association has close relationships with US Republicans Institute, National Democracy Institute and some other international organizations. M. Zulfugarli said trainings and workshops are underway for observers.
According to Zulfugarli, Association’s observers will watch the elections in more than 5,000 voting stations. Early results will be publicized on 16 September. /Trend/