BAKU, 31 January 2020 – During a visit to Azerbaijan ahead of next week's parliamentary elections, OSCE PA President George Tsereteli reiterated the importance of international election observation missions in assessing and improving electoral processes in the OSCE region.

President Tsereteli travelled to Baku on 30-31 January for a series of high-level meetings with officials, electoral stakeholders and representatives of political parties ahead of the upcoming early parliamentary elections, taking place in Azerbaijan on 9 February 2020.

President Tsereteli meeting President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, 30 January 2020He met with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ogtay Asadov, the Vice-Chair of the Milli Meclis and the Head of the Delegation of Azerbaijan to the OSCE PA Bahar Muradova, as well as with the Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov.

Tsereteli stressed the importance of a transparent and competitive election, which enables voters to fully enjoy their fundamental rights and upholds Azerbaijan’s commitment to OSCE principles. He highlighted the importance of the upcoming election observation exercise in assessing compliance with Azerbaijan’s OSCE commitments.

President Tsereteli also met opposition party leader Arif Hajili, Chairman of the Musavat Party, as well as Gultekin Hacibeyli, Board member of the National Council of Democratic forces, exchanging views on the current election- and campaign environment.

“Elections are an opportunity to demonstrate and to assess the commitment to OSCE principles, not just on election day, but throughout the entire process.” Tsereteli said. “The authorities have announced an ambitious reform agenda, but this requires public trust in the newly elected parliament. Credible elections in a transparent and competitive environment, respecting freedoms of assembly, expression and assuring a fair candidate registration are therefore critical for future developments. A parliament must be the place where diverse and independent views, reflecting the diversity of the society it represents, can be debated without restrictions.”

Following the meetings with local interlocutors, President Tsereteli also met with the Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission, Ambassador Peter Tejler and his team, to exchange their views on the upcoming joint Election Observation Mission of the OSCE/ODIHR and the findings of the recently released Interim Report of the Election Observation Mission.

Upon invitation by the authorities of Azerbaijan, the OSCE PA will send a delegation of more than 60 observers to observe the 9 February elections, deploying in several regions around Azerbaijan. Artur Gerasymov (MP, Ukraine) has been appointed by the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office as Special Co-ordinator for the OSCE short-term observer mission and the OSCE PA delegation is headed by Elona Hoxha-Gjebrea (MP, Albania).