Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAKU699
2008-07-22 13:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

OSCE CONDUCTS ELECTION TRAINING FOR EXCOMS AND

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKB #0699 2041343
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 221343Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5733
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 2932
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1042
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000699 

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: OSCE CONDUCTS ELECTION TRAINING FOR EXCOMS AND
CONSTITUENCY ELECTION COMMISSIONS

Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000699

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: OSCE CONDUCTS ELECTION TRAINING FOR EXCOMS AND
CONSTITUENCY ELECTION COMMISSIONS

Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: During the week of July 7 the OSCE Office in
Baku, in cooperation with the GOAJ, conducted a series of
trainings for the Heads of the Regional Executive Authorities
and the Chairmen of the Constituency Election Commissions.
These trainings focused on the illegality of interference in
the election process by political officials, in accordance
with the recent changes to the Election Code. The
participation of high level GOAJ officials in the seminars is
a signal that there may be improvement in this area, which
has been a consistent problem in previous elections, during
October's Presidential election. The key determinant in
whether these local officials act in accordance with the law
will be the private messages they receive from the
Presidential Apparat in the days before the elections. END
SUMMARY


2. (SBU) During the week of July 7, the OSCE Office in Baku,
in cooperation with the Presidential Administration and the
Central Election Commission, conducted four separate one-day
training sessions for Heads of Regional Executive Authorities
(ExComs) and Chairmen of Constituency Election Commissions.
Two of these sessions took place in Baku, one in Ganja, and
one in Shirvan. The first session in Baku was led by OSCE
Ambassador Jose-Luis Herrero Ansola, Ali Hasanov, Head of the
Socio-Political Department of the Presidential
Administration, and Mazahir Panahov, Chairman of the Central
Election Commission. Over the four sessions, all ExComs and
Constituency Election Commission Chairmen participated.


3. (C) According to feedback from the OSCE Office in Baku,
the purpose of the training was to inform the participants
about the amendments made recently to the Election Code in
advance of October's presidential election. The focus of the
training was the inclusion in the Electoral Code making
interference in the election by political officials illegal.
(COMMENT: Prior to the 2005 Parliamentary Elections,
President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree banning interference
in the election. This prohibition had not been previously
included in the Election Code. END COMMENT). OSCE officials
reported that the Azerbaijani officials participated actively
in the sessions, and asked important questions which helped
to clarify their role during elections. In a private
meeting, OSCE Ambassador Herrero told the Ambassador that
receiving permission from the GOAJ to conduct these
unprecedented trainings had been difficult, but that both
President Aliyev and Ali Hasanov eventually agreed to them.
Hasanov, Herrero said, was active in supporting his very
candid presentation.

COMMENT
--------------


4. (C) In previous elections, international observers,
including OSCE/ODIHR, found interference in the elections by
local political leaders to be a serious problem. This
training's focus on this question is therefore an important
step in improving elections in Azerbaijan. Additionally, the
fact that the training was clearly approved by the highest
levels of the government is a sign that the government wants
to be seen as correctly implementing this section of the
Election Code. Of course, the key determinant in whether the
ExComs and CEC officials act in accordance with the law will
be the private messages they receive about their proper role
from the Presidential Apparat in the days before the
elections. The institution of the ExCom in Azerbaijan is
known for its unquestioning loyalty to the Presidential
Apparat, and in particular, Head of Presidential
Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev.

DERSE