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AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 26 2005
Garabagh Armenians to vote in parliament election
Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC) has passed a decision
to set up a district electoral commission based in Khankandi, an
Azerbaijani region under Armenian occupation. The ethnically-Armenian
citizens of Azerbaijan residing in Upper Garabagh will thus get a
legitimate opportunity to vote for their candidate at the country's
parliament election in November.
The CEC chairman Mazahir Panahov explained the decision by the
'consideration of Azeri public's views'. He said the government may
'take measures' with regard to the district commission that are not
envisioned by the law for other constituencies, in particular, voting
over the Internet. The CEC website indicates the Garabagh
constituency commission but does not specify its address.
However, the commission members have already been determined and
include ethnically-Armenian Azerbaijani citizen Svetlana Gorchiyeva,
who comes from Garabagh and currently lives in Baku. Representative
of the ruling New Azerbaijan party Zahid Alishov has been elected
chairman of the commission.
The CEC secretary Vidadi Mahmudlu said that Upper Garabagh voters are
divided into three groups. The first one includes mostly people of
Armenian nationality residing in Upper Garabagh, while the second one
- displaced Azerbaijanis temporarily settled in other regions of the
country. The third group includes Armenians that were opposed to the
separatist regime of Upper Garabagh and migrated to foreign
countries.
A would-be candidate for the election from Azadlig bloc comprising
three major opposition parties Isa Baghirov said that Azerbaijanis
from Khankandi, who belong to the second group, are densely settled
in Baku and two other large cities of the country - Sumgayit and
Ganja.
Baghirov said that he is from Khankadi himself and is touch with a
number of people that are registered in the district. "There are no
problems with conducting election and propaganda campaigns there. The
key issue is to set up ballot stations, and then we will outline
further steps. I believe the election in this constituency will take
place. The Central Election Commission will most likely come to terms
with Armenians living in Khankadi, enabling them to cast their votes
as well."
Despite Baghirov's plans to nominate his candidacy from the Khankandi
constituency, he does not intend to appeal to ethnic Armenian
citizens of Azerbaijan. He said, however, that he will be able to
forge ties with Armenian residents in certain ways if he gets a
chance to run for the election.
"They know me well. But if the needed conditions are provided, I
would like to hold an election campaign there... Registration of
candidates is underway but they do not include people of Armenian
descent. However, I do not rule out that there will be such a
candidate."
The CEC secretary Vidadi Mahmudlu said that the participation of an
ethnically-Armenian candidate from Garabagh in the poll and his
election to the Azerbaijani parliament may bring the country
considerable political benefits.
"The Azeri public should assess this as a positive factor. Certainly,
if such a candidate is elected, there will be discontent and possible
protest actions, but the positive side of the matter overweighs the
downsides."
Mahmudlu said that the decision to set up the Khankandi election
commission was belated.
"The commission could have been established during previous
elections, including the presidential election. Earlier, we simply
opposed the conduct of 'elections' in Khankandi. However, we are now
providing an opportunity for Armenian residents of Upper Garabagh,
who are Azerbaijani citizens, to enjoy their suffrage within the
country's Constitution."
The step will be welcomed by international organizations, the CEC
official said.
The system on voting via the Internet is widely used in many
countries. It has been tested in Azerbaijan and is in line with
country's legislation. Although using the procedure is a complicated
process, applying the system in the country is possible, Mahmudlu
said.
The CEC is developing appeals to international organizations,
including OSCE, to provide assistance in specifying the lists of
candidates from Upper Garabagh.
"The election will take place in about 70 days. There is enough time
to prepare lists and set up constituencies", Mahmudlu said.
Aug 26 2005
Garabagh Armenians to vote in parliament election
Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC) has passed a decision
to set up a district electoral commission based in Khankandi, an
Azerbaijani region under Armenian occupation. The ethnically-Armenian
citizens of Azerbaijan residing in Upper Garabagh will thus get a
legitimate opportunity to vote for their candidate at the country's
parliament election in November.
The CEC chairman Mazahir Panahov explained the decision by the
'consideration of Azeri public's views'. He said the government may
'take measures' with regard to the district commission that are not
envisioned by the law for other constituencies, in particular, voting
over the Internet. The CEC website indicates the Garabagh
constituency commission but does not specify its address.
However, the commission members have already been determined and
include ethnically-Armenian Azerbaijani citizen Svetlana Gorchiyeva,
who comes from Garabagh and currently lives in Baku. Representative
of the ruling New Azerbaijan party Zahid Alishov has been elected
chairman of the commission.
The CEC secretary Vidadi Mahmudlu said that Upper Garabagh voters are
divided into three groups. The first one includes mostly people of
Armenian nationality residing in Upper Garabagh, while the second one
- displaced Azerbaijanis temporarily settled in other regions of the
country. The third group includes Armenians that were opposed to the
separatist regime of Upper Garabagh and migrated to foreign
countries.
A would-be candidate for the election from Azadlig bloc comprising
three major opposition parties Isa Baghirov said that Azerbaijanis
from Khankandi, who belong to the second group, are densely settled
in Baku and two other large cities of the country - Sumgayit and
Ganja.
Baghirov said that he is from Khankadi himself and is touch with a
number of people that are registered in the district. "There are no
problems with conducting election and propaganda campaigns there. The
key issue is to set up ballot stations, and then we will outline
further steps. I believe the election in this constituency will take
place. The Central Election Commission will most likely come to terms
with Armenians living in Khankadi, enabling them to cast their votes
as well."
Despite Baghirov's plans to nominate his candidacy from the Khankandi
constituency, he does not intend to appeal to ethnic Armenian
citizens of Azerbaijan. He said, however, that he will be able to
forge ties with Armenian residents in certain ways if he gets a
chance to run for the election.
"They know me well. But if the needed conditions are provided, I
would like to hold an election campaign there... Registration of
candidates is underway but they do not include people of Armenian
descent. However, I do not rule out that there will be such a
candidate."
The CEC secretary Vidadi Mahmudlu said that the participation of an
ethnically-Armenian candidate from Garabagh in the poll and his
election to the Azerbaijani parliament may bring the country
considerable political benefits.
"The Azeri public should assess this as a positive factor. Certainly,
if such a candidate is elected, there will be discontent and possible
protest actions, but the positive side of the matter overweighs the
downsides."
Mahmudlu said that the decision to set up the Khankandi election
commission was belated.
"The commission could have been established during previous
elections, including the presidential election. Earlier, we simply
opposed the conduct of 'elections' in Khankandi. However, we are now
providing an opportunity for Armenian residents of Upper Garabagh,
who are Azerbaijani citizens, to enjoy their suffrage within the
country's Constitution."
The step will be welcomed by international organizations, the CEC
official said.
The system on voting via the Internet is widely used in many
countries. It has been tested in Azerbaijan and is in line with
country's legislation. Although using the procedure is a complicated
process, applying the system in the country is possible, Mahmudlu
said.
The CEC is developing appeals to international organizations,
including OSCE, to provide assistance in specifying the lists of
candidates from Upper Garabagh.
"The election will take place in about 70 days. There is enough time
to prepare lists and set up constituencies", Mahmudlu said.