OBSERVERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE VISITED THE CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION
The delegation consisting of the observers of Local and Regional Authorities Congress of the Council of Europe who are on trip to our country met with Mr. Mazahir Panahov, CEC Chairman on 7 December.

Ms. Gaye Doganoglu, head of the delegation thanked for frank greeting and interested in the activities and steps to be taken by the Commission related to Municipal Elections appointed to 23 December 2009.

CEC Chairman emphasized the cooperation with Local and Regional Authorities Congress of the Council of Europe since 1999 and expressed his gratitude for the meeting.

 

 By driving the attention to the reality that the process of registering candidates which is one of the important stages in Municipal Elections, has already been ended and nearly 32 thousand candidates were registered, he informed that the candidates nominated by 18 political parties had been registered.

In general, candidates represent 30 political parties for their party affiliation.

 6180 of them, i.e. 19,5 % were women. Since November 25, pre-election campaign has been commenced and this activity was fully facilitated. Up today, nearly 20 thousand observers have been accredited. The process is still undergoing.

 

CEC traditionally implements wide-ranged education program.

The courses for the members of Constituency Election Commissions (Con.EC) and chairmen of Precinct Election Commissions, informational sessions organized by the Presidential Administration and jointly by the CEC with OSCE Baku Office for the heads of local executive authorities and chairpersons of the Con.ECs, trainings for the Con.EC trainers are from this kind.

 

At the present, trainings for the members of Con.ECs and PECs are continued. Furthermore, CEC jointly with the USA International Foundation for Election Systems prepared "Election Day Guide” booklet and distributed it to the commission members.

 

Such a guide is prepared for observers, too and is going to be issued on these days. By informing on the projects implemented and considered related to the voters education, Mr. M.Panahov stated that all steps necessary for conducting democratic, fair and transparent elections will be further taken and election rights of the citizens will be full ensured.

The delegation expressed their confidence in the conduct of democratic elections.
At the meeting, view exchange was held between the Council of Europe and Central Election Commission.