REPORT OF THE CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION
OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
February-March, 2008
www.msk.gov.az
www.cec.gov.az
www.infocenter.gov.az
The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan intensified its activities and implemented a number of actions to prepare for the presidential elections.
Voter education connected with updating voter lists is continuing. To this aim PSAs of the promotional nature are broadcasted on TV and materials are published by the CEC. 5 TV channels answered to CEC appeal to join the promotional process. Many of the regional TV companies and about 25 local media operating in various parts of the republic joined this process. Information (address, contact phones) on constituency election commissions was also available in the regional media. This information facilitates address the voters directly to the election commission which is located in their constituency at the desired time.
According to the Election Code, work with the voters’ lists was finalized by the precinct election commissions by February 5 and the lists were presented to the constituency election commissions. The constituency election commissions continued the updating work and from mid March started presenting the electronic voter lists to CEC “Elections” Information Centre. 250 calls were made to a hotline opened to deal with s’ lists during February-March. Calls were mainly related to s’ lists. CEC rapidly responded to these appeals and took appropriate actions. Questions of the citizens who called the hotline with various enquiries were also answered in detail. The voters who addressed via email posted on the website also received required information and appropriate actions were taken when needed.
The third stage of the educational program recommended to CEC in the Decree of the President of Republic of Azerbaijan “On Approval of National Plan of Actions for Protection of Human Rights in the Republic of Azerbaijan” which started from the beginning of February was finalized at the beginning of March. Implementation of the project in fields was based on the approved curriculum and specialized courses were conducted for members of the constituency election commissions. Heads of local judicial institutions and prosecutors’ offices, officers of the region executive powers and chairs of the constituency election commissions made speeches before the course participants. Members of the precinct election commissions of the election constituencies that cover the occupied regions were also involved in the courses conducted in the areas where the precincts are located. The courses were broadcasted by some TV channels and the public was informed about them.
The Constituency election commissions regularly provide the CEC with information on dynamics of increase of a number of voters in their constituencies. The CEC analysis the received information and reviews possible changes to be made to the borders of constituencies and precincts.
To inform the international community about the elections in Azerbaijan CEC closely cooperates with the representatives of the international and foreign institutions operating in the republic. So regular meetings are held with OSCE Baku office, IFES and some other organizations and exchange of opinions on the planned joint projects are conducted. CEC actively participates in work of the Project Coordination Group organized with initiative of the OSCE Baku office. Activities of the above-mentioned group are directed at prevention of conduct of similar projects at the same time and at study of partnership opportunities related to the programs, which will be implemented. During these meetings the international organizations are given information on the area and issues which are considered as priority by the CEC, possible partnership opportunities are discussed and exchange of opinions is conducted. A number of projects to be implemented with the international organizations are already at the development stage.
As 2008 is an election year the CEC intensified its relations with the mass media which were close anyway. The representatives of the mass media are invited to the CEC events and regularly receive the required information. During February and March with the aim to inform the public about the preparation and conduct of the elections press conferences, briefings were held, interviews were conducted and published in electronic information means operating in the republic and many bulletins, interviews and articles were published in the press. Press conferences and briefings included also M. Panahov’s monthly press conferences for February and March. During both press-conferences the CEC chairman provided the media with comprehensive information and answered their questions. Apart from that, other representatives of the CEC also conducted briefings and meetings with the media.
