Head of EU Mission: Baku Invites OSCE ODIHR to Elections

Baku / 16.02.18 / Turan: The European Union will be based on the experience and standards of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE in the early presidential elections in Azerbaijan on April 11, the head of the EU representation in Azerbaijan, Ambassador Kestutis Jankauskas, told journalists on Friday.

He recalled that on February 9, a meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Committee took place in Brussels, where Azerbaijan was represented by Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and the EU - by the High Commissioner for Foreign Policy, Frederica Mogherini.

"At the meeting, presidential elections were one of the main issues. Ms. Mogherini clearly indicated that the EU hopes that the early presidential elections will be open and democratic," the Ambassador said.

The head of the EU representation in Azerbaijan noted that Azerbaijan invited international organizations to observe the elections.

"Azerbaijan sent invitations to the international organizations, a member of which it is. Therefore, the EU has not received an invitation.

The EU is always based on the experience of the OSCE and the OSCE / ODIHR. I know that the invitation to the OSCE ODIHR has already been received and is being considered. They should evaluate all the details," Jankauskas noted. -71D-