US urge Azeri government respect its commitments, investigate violations

The US on Thursday backed its initial statement on the Azerbaijani election and urged the Azeri government to conduct a transparent, credible investigation of all reported electoral violations and to implement the recommendations made in ODIHR's final report, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The statement on Azerbaijan's presidential election was delivered by the US ambassador to OSCE Daniel Baer at the organization's Permanent Council, in Vienna. 

"We urge the government of Azerbaijan to respect its OSCE commitments in areas including freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, and expression. We urge restraint and avoidance of violence by all in the post election period," the statement reads.  "We remain committed to supporting the people of Azerbaijan and working with the government to further efforts to achieve Azerbaijan's full potential as a stable, prosperous, and democratic member of the international community."

While commending the Azeri government for inviting ODIHR/OSCE PA to observe this election, the US, which had contributed two long-term observers and 25 short-term observers to the observation mission, offers its strong support for the observers' October 10 election statement.

On the basis of the joint ODIHR/OSCE PA initial assessment, which stated that the election "was undermined by limitations on the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association," highlighted that the campaign was marred by "candidate and voter intimidation and a restrictive media environment," and cited "significant problems:throughout all stages of election day processes," the US "regrets that this election fell far short of the international standards and Azerbaijan's commitments to the OSCE."  

At the same time, the US notes the comments in the ODIHR and OSCE PA preliminary statement on constructive steps taken by the Azeri government during the election campaign, including the successful registration of Jamil Hasanli and certain other opposition candidates, authorization of some opposition campaign rallies, and efficient technical preparation for the election.

In the meantime, the US mission expressed deep concern that some OSCE states appeared to call into question OSCE's election role. "At the 1999 Istanbul Summit, participating states made a clear commitment to election observation and to abide by the recommendations of ODIHR and the PA. In particular, at Istanbul, participating States reaffirmed "our obligation to conduct free and fair elections in accordance with OSCE commitments, in particular the 1990 Copenhagen Document.  We recognize the assistance the ODIHR can provide to participating States in developing and implementing electoral legislation.  In line with these commitments, we will invite observers to our elections from other participating States, the ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and appropriate institutions and organizations that wish to observe our election proceedings.  We agree to follow up promptly the ODIHR's election assessment and recommendations," the statement reads.  

"It is troubling to us that some chose to overlook that the joint ODIHR/PA report found "significant problems were observed throughout all stages of election day processes and underscored the serious nature of the shortcomings that need to be addressed in order for Azerbaijan to fully meet its OSCE commitments for genuine and democratic standards."  ODIHR and the OSCE PA worked closely together to uphold the OSCE gold-standard of impartial election monitoring and deserve the full support of all participating States and OSCE bodies," the Ambassador mentioned.  -25В-