Credentials
Delegation Azerbaijan
plenary
session 25 January 2006
report
10807
The
elections in Azerbaijan of november 2005 were not free and fair.
The rapporteur, who was also an observer of our mission, give in his report the
right information about these elections.
Of course, no one expects or demands that Azerbaijan will develop a
real democracy within a short periode of 10 years.
But what can be asked is, to make real progress.
And if you look at the way these elections were held, it’s a pity that this
was not the case.
Sure there were some improvements, but the bad things dominated.
This
is all written down in my report on these elections, which was adopted on behalf
of the Assembly by the Standing Committee.
And also Mr Lloyd reports on this.
The
important issues of this debate are: does this Assembly takes it’s own
principles and decesions serioulsy and what is the best tool we can use to
improve the functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan.
And this debate is of
course not at a starting point.
Half
a year ago this Assembly adopted a resolution in which it said to hope that the
forthcoming parliamentary elections will be held in a democratic and transparant
manner, so as to cast no doubt over the credentials of the new delegation.
In
my report the Assembly adopted the conclusion that these elections were not held
in a democratic and transparant matter and did’nt meet the standards and
commitments of the CoE.
So
it’s logic to cast a doubt on the credentials.
Not to punish the Azeri-delegation.
Not to give a blow to their pride.
But to make clear to the people of Azerbaijan that the CoE takes it’s own
principles seriously in order to serve democracy, human rights and rule of law.
And to make it clear to the authorities and ruling politicans in Azerbaijan that
it’s absolute necessary to make changes and improvements.
In
both reports there are proposals for this.
I think we have a better position to achieve these changes and improvements when
we are clear and consequent.
And that means: accept the credentials, but
set the voting right aside untill June, after the re-run of elections in
just 10 constituencies.
That’s
not making a new standard.
It’s one of the few tools, and not the sharpest one, this Assembly has within
the rules and statute of the CoE.