By the Order dated 3 September 2010 of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the fourth call Elections to the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan was appointed to 7 November 2010. For the conduct of Parliamentary elections, “Calendar Plan for the basic activities and measures on the preparation and conduct of the fourth call Elections to the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was approved on 6 September 2010.
By taking into consideration that 2010 is the year of the following Elections to the Milli Majlis, Central Election Commission has commenced the preparation and conduct of many projects since beginnings of the year.
Pursuant to Election Code, like every year, Central Election Commission has realized the process of specification of voters’ lists since January till the end of May of 2010. During this period, members of the functioning Precinct Election Commissions have specified the voters’ lists of their precincts by walking “door-to-door”. Afterwards, this information has transmitted to the Constituency Election Commission and in the next stage, to the CEC. CEC has checked possible repetition and inaccurateness of names there by collecting data base which voters enter and then has submitted the specified variant of voters’ lists to the Con.ECs.
Along with hanging the voters’ lists on the republic in the precincts for voters to be familiar with, they have also been located on the CEC web-site since the beginning of 2005. Every voter may check whether his/her name has been included in the voters’ lists through direct transition or relevant search system and specify the information about him/her (name, surname, patronymic, date of birth, the number of the precinct and constituency where he/she votes). Therewith, voter may attain from this site the necessary information on the address of the precinct where he/she will vote, map of the above-talked area in city, transportation means moving in the route of this address. Voters may call hot line # 115 regarding the elimination of the shortcomings found out in their information or may appeal to the Central Election Commission by completing the relevant online application form. This information is considered once more and necessary specifications are made. Voters may also apply to the relevant Con.EC for checking their names in the voters’ lists. The specification process of voters’ lists is regularly implemented.
Specification of voters’ lists is carried on not only in election year and within the limited period, but through the whole year with on daily bases under the cooperation with the relevant bodies (local Department of Registration and ID cards, State Registration Department of Citizenship Acts and other organizations dealing with the citizens’ registration), relevant information on the voters’ state is operatively delivered to Con.ECs and taken into consideration in the lists. By analyzing voters’ increase dynamics according to the obtained information, CEC looked through dislocations of constituencies and precincts on the republic by considering the requirements of Election Code and made necessary amendments in the borders of constituencies by complying with average norm of representation. As the result of this process, amendments were made in the borders of 39 constituencies, as well as in the names of 3 constituencies (Gobustan-Khizi-Sumgayit Con.EC # 50, Aghjabedi-Fuzuli Con.EC # 83, Shusha-Aghdam-Khojali-Khojavend Con.EC # 124). Recently approved dislocations of election
constituencies have been publicized by being published.
The appeals received through hot line # 115 functioning with respect to voters’ lists, have been operatively replied by the CEC and necessary activities have been taken on this. When the voters did not find data on them in the voters’ lists, they filled out electron application form and sent it to Central Election Commission, the alike appeals were specified with local election commissions and necessary activities were taken related with this.
Questions of the citizens who applied to hot lines related with other election-related inquiries were thoroughly replied.
One copy of the latest variant of the voters’ lists specified during this period was stored at Con.ECs and another copy was preserved at the CEC, as well as the last copy was posted on the CEC web-site.
Spreading of IDPs inhabited within the country to all republic regions always complicates the arrangement of their voting and hard works related with this are carried on.
For the voters to check their names in the voters’ lists, CEC conducted intensive campaign via different means and closely cooperated with mass media.
Specified latest lists were published pursuant to Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan and turned over to the Con.ECs for deliverance to the PECs.
In the aim of studying preparations and needs related with the preparation and conduct of elections, CEC has implemented monitoring of working conditions and material-technical state of the Con.ECs permanently functioning within the country since April 5, 2007 (monitoring of lower election commissions has been commenced since the ends of 2006 and regularly is implemented every year). During nearly 2 months, monitoring groups consisting of members of the CEC and Secretariat officials inspected the activity of 125 Con.ECs. During the monitoring all relevant issues on clerical works of the Con.ECs and working conditions existing in the building where they situated have been considered.
By the instruction of President of the Republic, working conditions of 125 Con.EC situated within the country have been improved. So thus, new administrative buildings which meet high standards were constructed for more than 100 Con.ECs in short period and in the apartment of the remaining Con.ECs necessary repair and re-construction works have been realized. All Con.ECs have been equipped with new informational technologies including necessary office equipment.
In 2010 newly constructed administrative building of the CEC has been given to use. In this apartment constructed on high level all facilities have been provided for the activity of Commission members and officials, besides, center of the State Automated Information System on the republic and network of web-cameras installed for live observation on the republic were moved to this building.
Education of electoral subjects with different status has always been priority for the CEC. Before starting elections, many projects have been implemented in this direction concerning 7 November 2010 elections.
In the framework of education program of lower election commissions related with election process, seminar-trainings were conducted jointly with the Venice Commission of the European Council for the members of expert groups of the Con.ECs who were responsible for the consideration of the appeals and complaints on 7 and 8 July. During the seminar-trainings local and international experts made speeches on the topic of the consideration of election-related appeals and complaints, replied to the questions of the participants and view exchange was hold related with the cases committed during previous elections.
For the preparation and conduct of elections pursuant to legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the organization of courses for the members of election commissions has already turned tradition. Order dated 28 December 2006 of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On the approval of National Activity Plan on the protection of human rights in the Republic of Azerbaijan” recommended CEC to conduct professional courses on election right considered for the members of election commissions and realization of educational works on holding elections. This order reflects free and fair conduct of elections, as well as political will directed towards the protection of human rights and freedoms in election process. In order to fulfill the recommendations rooted from the order, CEC prepared project which deemed the conduct of professional courses on election right for improving legal skills and occupational abilities of the members of lower election commissions. The above-talked project consisted of 2 phases and covered approximately more than 6000 election officials. As it was considered in the first stage of the project, on 23-29 August 2010, CEC conducted study courses for the Con.EC chairpersons for a week. In the frame of study program, the course participants were divided as 4 groups, visited several Con.ECs situating in Baku city, exchange of practice was conducted with these election commissions, they were made familiar with their working conditions and activity. At the same time, the course participants met with Chairman and judges of Supreme Court, heard the recommendations of the court chairman related with the consideration of the appeals and complaints.    
During the course incumbent persons of the Presidential Administration, Milli Majlis, Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, General Prosecutor’s Office, Ministry of Interior Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Baku Appeal Court and Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan made speech on various topics and held practical workshops. Study program included subjects on human rights, Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Election Code, international election standards, role of political parties in elections, election practice of other countries, transparency in elections, consideration of appeals and complaints, pre-election campaign and so on., therewith, elections conducted in previous years and “learned studies” were looked through. The participants addressed to speakers with the questions which interested them and got necessary information. Head of OSCE Baku office also took part at the courses.
Realization of the second stage of the project happened on 1-3 September. The courses were conducted basing on study program approved by the CEC and at these courses, Con.EC members, officials of Con.EC Secretariats and chairpersons of PECs took part. Heads of local courts and prosecutor’s offices, incumbents of region executive authorities and chairpersons of Con.ECs made speech in the face of course participants. Practical seminars enabled participants to conduct view exchanges related with the issues of great interest to them.
Members of PECs of election constituencies which cover the regions under occupation were also involved in the courses conducted within the areas where precincts located. Process of courses was enlightened by mass media and publicity was informed on this.
Network of State Automated Information System – “Elections” Information Network plays important role in ensuring transparency in Election Day process. For the specialists to attain necessary skills and knowledge in the aim of correct usage of this network and relevant program software, trainings had been conducted since 15 September within a week, they were informed on new specific details of program software and the equipment joined to network was made ready to elections by being inspected. The next stage of the alike trainings occurred on 27-30 October. During these trainings relevant information was also delivered to the Con.EC specialists related with the preparations to test process to be conducted for inspecting the network.
One of the projects implemented together with international organizations is informational sessions conducted jointly with OSCE Baku office. First such session had been conducted since 20 September by the organization of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Central Election Commission, on the initiative of OSCE Baku office and on the topic “Prevention of illegal intervention in election process”. These informational sessions were organized for the heads of region executive authorities and Con.EC chairpersons. First informational session was conducted for the heads of executive authorities and Con.EC chairpersons of Baku and surrounding regions on 20 September. The alike sessions were conducted on 21 September in Shirvan, on 22 September in Mingachevir, on 24 September in Nakhchivan for the heads of executive authorities and Con.EC chairpersons.
Central Election Commission regularly prepares and implements projects for further improvement of professionalism level of the members of election commissions. One of the projects founded in 2002 and already turned tradition is training project implemented by using visual aids for lower election commissions. Previously this project was being implemented by small group of trainers. But since 2008 CEC together with the Venice Commission of the European Council prepared 2 local trainers for each election constituency. These trainers have played significant role in education of Con.EC and PEC members for several years. In the aim of educating lower election commissions related with 2010 Elections to the Milli Majlis, training project with 2 stages was prepared. In the frame of the first stage, CEC Training Group jointly with the experts of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe had conducted “Training for Trainers” in Baku since 5 October. During this training 250 local trainers from 125 constituencies were informed on the voting process in Elections to the Milli Majlis, exceptional cases, vote count, Election Day procedures including filling out protocols and the cases which may be faced with on Election Day were covered during practical courses. During the activity the practice attained in the trainings conducted during previous elections was discussed and participants were provided necessary recommendations. In the second stage which members of Con.ECs and PECs had been involved in, CEC Training group prepared special supplementary slides for usage which reflected necessary information for trainings and they were submitted to training groups on election constituencies. Second phase of the training of lower election commissions started since 14 October and was conducted by using visual aids for small groups of 25-30 persons basing on the table submitted by Training group. This process lasted nearly for 15 days. In the framework of trainings, members of lower election commissions were thoroughly informed on election process. Therewith, during these trainings each PEC member was submitted “Election Day Guide”, samples of protocol on the voting results and many other documents. In whole, these trainings were attended by more than 32 000 commission members.
Voter education has always been the point of focus for the CEC. By considering that 2010 is the year of election, CEC has further intensified its works implemented in this field and prepared many projects.
Since August CEC members and officials have made speech on different election-related topics twice in a week in AzTV and ITV channels which are broadcasted within the whole territory of the republic. Articles and interviews of CEC representatives in press papers are also one of the projects targeted to development of voters’ election knowledge. Furthermore, CEC prepared 6 campaign and informational video clips and they are regularly broadcasted through 7 TV channels. These clips have been on subjects “Do not forget to check your names in voters’ lists”, “Voters’ lists on CEC web-page” and typed of challenge. And since the beginnings of November video clip on “voting procedure” will be submitted to voters. Thousands of posters which informed voters in different election-related fields have been published, submitted to Con.ECs and in their turn, they have hung these materials in densely populated areas and precincts. One of the steps put forward in voter education is locating “Guide for the voting rules” for voters on the back side of notification sheets to be delivered to each voter, thus it enables voters to get information on the procedures to be followed by them.
One of the important layers of voters is the youth who will for the first time vote. In the meetings with voters who will for the first time vote, conducted by the Ministry of Youth and Sport together with the CEC during October, they were thoroughly informed on the voting procedures and possible exceptional cases.
Focus on education of the candidates who intended to join election process has further been increased during elections. So, in the aim of smooth conduct of candidates’ registration process and by error-free complying their documents, submitting them to Con.ECs by candidates, CEC prepared and published for the first time, “Guide for candidates to deputy”. The guidebook contains the rules for the nomination of candidates to deputy, collection of voters’ signatures, submission of election documents for the registration of candidates to deputy, candidate registration, at the same time, rights and duties of candidates were explained. Using this guidebook showed effective legal assistance for the persons intending to nominate their candidacies in Elections to the Milli Majlis for collecting necessary information. The booklet provided detailed information on the issues to be complied with by candidates, as well as banned for them by law. The guidebook has been prepared in accordance with Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan and normative acts approved by the CEC.
As the continuance of education program of electoral subjects in Elections to the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan CEC had conducted regional seminars on the subject “Participation of police officials in elections” since 1 September jointly with the Ministry of Interior Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the aim of increasing information of police about his duties in election process. Therewith, CEC for the first time, prepared and published “Guidebook on the participation of police officers in the Elections to the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan”. The publication informed police officials on their service duties during pre-election campaign, in the process of carrying and protecting official election documents, duties on the voting day.
On 18 June 2010 Election Code was made some appendices and amendments. Immediately after these amendments, CEC commenced the process of working out and preparation of normative-legal base on Elections to the Milli Majlis and implemented goal-directed activities in this field. Firstly new variant of Election Code which contained amendments and changes was prepared and published in large circulations. Then, in order to ensure professional execution of legislation provisions and development of knowledge on election right, CEC adopted many normative acts – instructions, comments and rules, by considering latest amendments and changes made to election legislation, looked through previously adopted normative acts and prepared guidebooks, such other methodical aids for the members of lower election commissions, observers, candidates, as well as other participants of election process. 5 collections consisting of 23 prepared legal-normative acts were also published and delivered together with Election Code to more than 32 thousand members of election commissions.
The series of publication materials include ballot papers, final protocols of Con.ECs and PECs, so, these were published pursuant to Election Code and delivered to lower election commissions. Therewith, copies of final protocols were provided to PECs, being  30 copies for each in order to submit to observers and other interested election subjects.
Ensuring secrecy of voting has always been focus of attention. For the voting of the eyesight disabled upon abiding by the principle of secret ballot, CEC has prepared special templates and submitted to PECs also in elections of this year by following its tradition formed since 2003.
“Guide for Observers” prepared for educating observers during Elections to the Milli Majlis was published. The guidebook contains principles of observation, as well as rights and duties of observers. The booklet thoroughly informed observers on the affairs to be abided by and banned for them by law. The guidebook was published in Azerbaijan, English and Russian languages basing on Election Code and normative acts approved by the CEC. These booklets and “Election Day Guide” have been submitted to Con.ECs, political parties and other applied organizations in order to distribute among observers.
After the declaration of 7 November 2010 Elections to the Milli Majlis, citizens intending to take part like candidates in the forthcoming elections applied to Con.ECs and after having submitted necessary documents, were provided with signature sheets. Registration period of candidates was commenced since the day of declaring elections and lasted till 15 October. In the aim of making registration process of candidates easy and accelerate it, CEC prepared blank forms to fill out when submitting the documents to Con.ECs and provided thorough comment on this process in the guidebook for candidates. The citizens whose candidacies had been approved issued signature sheets and collected signatures. 1412 claimers issued signature sheets and only 1115 persons collected signatures and submitted signature sheets to Con.ECs together with other documents. 72 persons of these claimers who had returned signature sheets refused from their candidacies before Con.ECs considered the documents and thus, Con.ECs considered the documents of 1043 candidates. 738 claimers of them were registered as candidates. But it was impossible to register the candidacies of 302 persons due to serious law violations allowed in the submitted documents, as well as inaccuracy of the information on the sources of income or property, besides, the irregularities committed in spite of warnings, not prevented in signature sheets. 53 persons of the registered candidates withdrew their candidacies with own applications and finally, names of 688 candidates were included in ballot papers. 94 persons of candidates to deputy are women. The information on the nomination of the registered candidates and their party affiliation has been attached to the report – Appendix #1.
The appeals received through hot line # 115 related with the candidates’ registration process and other means had been operatively replied and relevant activities had been taken by the CEC. Since the beginnings of September, 780 appeals have entered the hot-line # 115 of the CEC.
Central Election Commission supplied Con.ECs with special computers for making easy the process of getting information on candidates from constituencies and realizing it operatively. Thanks to this program, the information on candidates’ registration has been transmitted to the CEC on daily basis through the current election network of the State Automated Information System, located directly on the Commission’s web-site, conveyed to publicity and regularly updated.
One of the important issues during elections is the consideration of citizens’ election-related appeals and adoption of relevant decisions. Pursuant to Election Code and the relevant instruction adopted by the CEC under the recommendation of Venice Commission experts of the Council of Europe, many significant steps have been put forward in order to consider the appeals and complaints effectively addressed by citizens.
The appeals and complaints have been investigated by Expert Group consisting of 9 persons established under Election Code and “Instruction on the rules for the submission and consideration of the appeals and complaints on the violation of election right filed to Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Constituency Election Commissions” prepared jointly with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and by discussing them, CEC has adopted decisions. For ensuring transparency in the consideration of the appeals and complaints and for citizens to follow their appeals, relevant section has been established on the CEC web-site where the matter of the appeal or complaint, citizen who has provided it, investigating commission member, relevant opinion and decision attained at the result of investigation is thoroughly located.
CEC received 239 appeals which related its competence. 172 of them concerned candidates’ registration and in 4 cases the applied person withdrew his/her candidacy. While considering the remaining 168 appeals, 131 of them were preserved without being amended as the Con.EC decision was grounded, in 35 cases the appeal was implemented and consequently, 35 candidates were registered by the CEC, in one case the appeal submitted by the candidate with the request on the cancel of the registration of another candidate, was not implemented. As well as, CEC was tasked with re-consideration of 2 appeals basing on the decision of Baku Appeal Court and Supreme Court and 7 out of these appeals were settled in favor of the candidate.
In 49 cases the appeal was not implemented due to groundlessness, in 11 cases as the conflict subject had been settled the appeal was terminated, in 6 cases as the appeal had been submitted by missing the deadline it was returned back, in one case the Con.EC decision on withdrawal of the candidacy was annulled and the candidacy of the citizen was restored.
Detailed information on the whole process has been located on the CEC web-site for the citizens to be informed.
At the same time, expert groups of 3 persons function under Con.ECs for investigating the appeals and complaints submitted to Con.ECs by citizens.
After ending the registration process of candidates, pre-election campaign has been started since 15 October. This stage is one of the important phases of election competition. CEC put forward many steps in forming equal conditions for candidates and these steps goaled ensuring pre-election campaign with equal facilities. The costs offered to candidates by 63 mass media (38 newspapers, 13 agencies, 12 TV and radio) which suggested airtime on paid basis for pre-election campaign have been submitted to the CEC and this information has been posted on the Commission’s web-site for candidates to be familiar with (the list of the mass media joined to the campaign on paid basis is attached – Appendix # 2). Meanwhile, more than 5000 boards were installed for campaign materials of candidates within each election precinct. One more important component part of pre-election campaign are meetings and gatherings with voters held by candidates. In this aim, 4930 (2676 open and 2254 closed) venues have been given to use of candidates in 3440 residences within the republic pursuant to Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (the list of open and closed venues has been posted on the CEC web-site). By informing the Con.EC, candidates use these places free of charge. In general, candidates have been provided all necessary facilities to meet with voters and convey their election-related requests to them.
In the aim of fully ensuring the possibilities specified by legislation for pre-election campaign subjects to conduct their campaigns, all activities have been taken by lower election commissions and other bodies leading by Central Election Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan within their competence, pre-election campaign atmosphere has been formed basing on fair and just terms for fair, just and transparent conduct of elections within the country. CEC founded new practice in favor of election subjects in Elections to the Milli Majlis in order to form fair competition condition for the parties, adopted decision on the allocation of airtime in Public TV (for the candidates on election constituencies within Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in NaxTV) and free space in the “Azerbaijan” newspaper (for the candidates on election constituencies within Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in “Sharg Gapisi” paper) by the state budget for all of the registered candidates besides facilities specified for the candidates to deliver their pre-election platforms to voters. For organizing “round table” among candidates on constituencies, CEC adopted decision on the allocation of free airtime of 4 minutes for each registered candidate. The rules for using free airtime have been determined and controlled by the CEC. As a rule, on the next day after using airtime, free space for publication in equal volume has been allocated for candidates. Daily volume of the allocated space has been determined as 2 pages in “Azerbaijan” paper (in “Sharg Gapisi” paper by dividing this volume among 7 candidates).
Transparency of the process plays significant role in free and just conduct of elections. Up today 46569 local observers have been registered to follow Elections to the Milli Majlis. 102 out of 1705 local observers registered by the CEC for conducting observation within the whole republic joined observation of elections by the initiative of  political parties, 560 observers by non-governmental organizations, 3 observers by the initiative of registered candidate and others on their own initiatives. Another group of local observers were accredited by the relevant Con.EC within certain constituency. The number of observers from this row reached 43153, 8177 out of them represented political parties, 5372 represented non-governmental organizations and 29604 persons conducted observation on their own initiatives.
1026 international observers accredited by the CEC up today represent 19 international organizations – Parliamentary Assembly of the European Council, Council of the European Union, Baku representation of the European Union, European Parliament,  Parliamentary Assembly of Turkish Speaking Countries, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, OSCE Bureau of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Commonwealth of Independent States, GUAM and the embassies of the USA, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, Norway, Bulgaria, Poland, Japan, Belgium. International observers consist of citizens of 48 countries.
Both local and international observers have been provided with relevant badges and as well as, Election Day guidebooks. International observers have been also provided with Election Code in English, “Guide for Observers” in English or Russian, informational disc on Azerbaijan, map of the country and other necessary materials.
CEC sessions are open to mass media representatives and observers. Before every session mass media representatives, international organizations and diplomatic delegates in the republic are made aware and invited. After the session, the documents adopted by the Commission are published in Azerbaijan paper and posted on CEC web-site.
In the aim of informing the publicity from time to time on the voting process, the mass media have been provided all facilities to prepare material from election precincts.  In the aim of enlightening the elections CEC accredited 43 representatives of international mass media from nearly 20 foreign mass media means including Reuters, BBC, Aljazeera, TRT, Associated Press, France Press, EPA, Anadolu, Ihlas Haber Ajansi, Dogan Haber Ajansi, Daily Ittehad.  
Practice of using web-cameras which has been applied since 2008 in election history of Azerbaijan and allows live follow the voting process via internet outside of election precincts. Technical preparations of web-cameras has been ended in 500 (approximately in 10%) of election precincts within the republic, by considering this issue at the session, CEC adopted relevant decision and the list of the precincts where web-cameras had been installed was published. By the help of these web-cameras internet users are allowed to follow live and incessantly the voting process, vote count and determination of results by entering CEC web-site.
“ELS” Independent Investigations Center applied to the CEC and was registered for conducting exit-poll on the voting day pursuant to Election Code.
In the aim of conveying election-related information operatively to publicity, another step put forward in previous elections has been increasing voters’ activity for 5 times and several hours after ending the voting, transmission of the voting results to the CEC and at the same time, to CEC web-site through the State Automated Information System. Special program software has been prepared for the implementation of this project also during the forthcoming elections, trainings on the rules of using them were conducted for the specialists and the system has been time and again tested.
CEC puts all necessary steps forward for free, fair and transparent conduct of elections and aims to regularly inform the publicity on election process.
After declaring elections CEC conducted 32 sessions during September and October and at these sessions, 380 decisions were adopted at these sessions.
The decisions adopted within this period embodied for substance the issues on the approval of Calendar Plan for the basic activities and measures on the conduct and preparation of Elections to the Milli Majlis, complaints off the actions (inactions) and decisions violating citizens’ election rights in Elections to the Millli Majlis, as well as, establishment of Expert Group under CEC for investigating these complaints, text, format, number and preparation rules of notifications on informing voters on the place and date of the voting, forming working group in order to check the accuracy of the information included in signature sheets, as well as in the documents submitted by candidates, political parties, political party blocs, candidates’ registration, approval of the comment on the rules for completing Con.EC and PEC protocols on the voting results, approval of the number and preparation rules of final protocols, registration of political party blocs, as well as registration of the authorized representatives of political parties, political party blocs, text, format, number and preparation rules of ballot papers, registration of the organizations which applied for conducting “exit poll”, making amendments in the compositions of some Con.ECs, approval of session minutes by the CEC, consideration of the appeals submitted to the CEC and so on.
By taking into account that 2010 is the year of election, CEC has further intensified its relations with mass media. During the year CEC activity has been fully open to mass media and country publicity has been informed regularly on the activity of the Commission. Mass media representatives are invited to the CEC activities and regularly attain necessary information. During September and October CEC conducted press conferences, briefings for educating the country publicity on the preparation and conduct of elections, regularly interviews were arranged in electron informational means functioning within the republic, press releases, articles were published. After the declaration of elections, commission members and incumbent officials of the Secretariat have made speech on different topics for 23 times in educational programs “People make choice” of Public TV and “Elections to the Milli Majlis – 2010” of Azerbaijan TV, generally, they have provided interviews to electron mass media for 115 times. Briefings made for press by the CEC Chairman has already turned tradition during elections. CEC Chairman conducted 6 briefings for the representatives of local and international mass media and enlightened the issues interested them related with these elections. More than 150 articles were published related with the activity of the Commission in publication informational means during September-October. Therewith, Con.EC chairpersons also joined education programs and provided interviews on different subjects to mass media.
One of the main activity aspects of Central Election Commission is cooperation with international and foreign organizations. Different projects and meetings were implemented in the frame of this cooperation. So thus, in the forthcoming elections, CEC has cooperated and regularly conducted meetings with OSCE Baku office, Venice Commission of the European Council and special representative of Secretary General to Baku, foreign embassies to Azerbaijan and other organizations. During such meetings, CEC informed international organizations on the field and issues adopted as priority, view exchanges were held and possible alliance facilities were discussed.
The activities from these series include round table on the subject “2010 Election Campaign: the activities taken upon the recommendations of Election Observation Mission on 2008 of OSCE Bureau of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights” organized by OSCE Baku office on 8 April 2010 and round table on theme “Role of media in election period” dedicated to election-related discussions on 24 August 2010. Another interesting meeting was Election Coordination and Discussion Meeting on Parliamentary elections for the embassies OSCE member states to Baku on 13 August, in this activity CEC Chairman informed the embassy representatives on  the preparations to elections, projects, steps put forward and replied to the questions interested them.
On 22 June CEC Chairman met with Pre-election Evaluation Mission of OSCE Bureau Democratic Institutions and Human Rights headed by Nicolas Kaczorowski, on 1 July with delegation led by Peter Semneby, special representative of the European Union on the South Caucasus, on 21 July with director of National Democracy Institute (the USA) on Eurasia, Laura Jewett and director on Azerbaijan Alex Grigoriyevis, on 11 August with head of OSCE Baku office ambassador Ali Bilge Cankorel, on 17 September with ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Great Britain to our country Carolyn Browne, on 15 October with vise president of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Wolfgang Grossruck and 19 October with Paul Wille, head of Special Committee of the European Council Parliamentary Assembly on the observation of 7 November Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Azerbaijan. At the meetings, view exchanges on Elections to the Milli Majlis were held and cooperation perspectives on the fields of mutual interest were discussed.
Regular meetings have been held on different levels with the representatives of OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, view exchanges have been conducted and necessary information has been conveyed to the mission members. Frequent meetings have also been conducted under the cooperation with CIS Observation Mission.  
CEC has put necessary steps forward in the direction of equipping Con.ECs and PECs related with the preparations to the forthcoming Elections to the Milli Majlis. Thus, lower election commissions were supplied with necessary publication materials, ballot boxes for using on the voting day, invisible ink balloons, ultraviolet lamps, battery for them, voting booths, single-use security locks, specific bags for storing protocols, sacks for carrying documents, office equipment and other needed means. Therewith, election precincts were provided with lock boxes for ensuring secrecy of important election documents on the voting day and electric generators for preventing the case of stopping electric power (excluding cities). From the aspect of equipment, both Constituency and Precinct Election Commissions have been fully supplied and made ready to the voting day.
All election-related information has been posted on the CEC web-site (www.msk.gov.az, www.cec.gov.az, www.infocenter.gov.az). Election Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, all instructions, rules, comments and decisions adopted by the CEC are available on the web-site in Azerbaijan and English languages immediately after sessions. Furthermore, dislocations of election constituencies and precincts, voters’ search system, information on previous elections, information on candidates, composition, address, contact information of election commissions, address and maps of election precincts, voters’ lists, information on pre-election campaign, as well as list of open, closed places and other information of great interest to publicity are located on the web-site. Within this period 234192 users have entered the CEC web-site and got different information posted on the site. Reports of Central Election Commission in Azerbaijan, English and Russian languages are posted on the web-site and addressed to local and international (foreign) organizations via e-mail.

Appendix #1

Appendix #2