BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 6
Trend:
Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee For Affairs Of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Rovshan Rzayev met with the Head of the election observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Peter Taylor and analyst Masha Yanushevich, Trend reports with reference to the state committee.
Rzayev informed the guests about the current situation of refugees and internally displaced persons expelled from their homes as a result of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the care and attention of the Azerbaijani state shown to them.
During the meeting, it was noted that Armenia, with its aggressive policy, continues to violate a number of fundamental rights of these people, including suffrage.
"Lack of pressure internationally on this aggressive state, which does not comply with UN resolutions on the unconditional withdrawal of troops from the occupied territories, is regrettable, Rzayev noted.
The chairman of the state committee expressed the hope that internally displaced persons will take an active part in the parliamentary elections on Feb. 9. He also noted that the interference of central and local executive authorities in the election process is impossible.
The guests were informed that the foundation of democratic traditions in Azerbaijan was laid back in the period of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, and during the years of independence they went the way of further development.
Rovshan Rzayev said that he had previously participated in parliamentary elections and was familiar with the practice of political struggle. Now, as a citizen, he praised the democratic environment in anticipation of the elections.
Peter Taylor thanked for the warm welcome and detailed information. He spoke about the activities of his long-term observer mission, and also shared his opinion on the participation of refugees and internally displaced persons in the parliamentary elections. He focused on the information of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan, and added that internally displaced persons will vote in 500 precincts of 14 constituencies. Taylor emphasized that OSCE observers will fulfill their mission in these areas.
Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.