Several events occurred in the political life of Azerbaijan from 16 through 31 August. That is, the list of the mass media to conduct free campaign for presidential contenders was defined.
These are the following:
Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, newspapers: “Azerbaijan”, “Khalg Gazeti”, “Republic”, and “Bakinski Rabochiy”.
Candidacies of Arif Hasangulu oghlu Aliyev, Ali Isa Haji oghlu Agayev and Fikrat Tagi oghlu Ahadov nominated on their own initiative in Presidential Elections of the Republic of Azerbaijan appointed on October 15, 2008 were approved by CEC. Candidacy of Fazil Mustafayev nominated by Great Establishment Party was also approved by CEC.
CEC expands cooperation with international organizations on the eve of the presidential elections. The Election Code will be translated into English on this purpose.
To secure transparency, Central Election Commission (CEC), Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) have today held training for the employees of election constituencies responsible for applications and complaints on the theme “Rules of considering applications and complaints”.
Central Election Commission published de-registration cards. Distribution of the card to the constituencies was finished. According to the Election Code de-registration cards must be presented to constituencies at least 50 days prior to the voting day and to the polling stations at least 25 days prior to the voting day. Formation of pre-elections coalition of opposition parties was discussed in the meeting of Musavat Party. Discussions over the activity of “Democratic Election Center” involving 9 parties were commenced. The reason is that some parties chose the way of boycotting, while some participate in elections with their candidates.
First week of the monitoring activities carried out by “Election 2008” NGO Coalition on presidential election to be held on October 15, 2008 came to an end. Monitoring to be realized till the end of October will be conducted in total in 15 governmental, oppositional and independent mass media means functioning in the country. Newspapers “Azerbaijan”, “Iki sahil”, “Yeni Azerbaycan”, “Yeni Musavat”, “Azadliq”, “Bizim yol”, “525-ci qezet”, “Sherq” and “Zerkalo” will be monitored during the monitoring. Besides, monitoring will cover the websites “mediaforum.az” and “lent.az” including AzTV, ITV, Leader TV and ANS TV channels.
Council of Europe and “Yeni Nesil” Journalists’ Union hold a conference “Media and elections: Democratic commitment of media” in Baku. The conference is held within the framework of the joint project of the Council of Europe and European Commission “Moldova and South Caucasus – support to free and fair elections”. Parliamentarians, editors, journalists, nongovernmental organizations, analysts, foreign and local experts attend the conference.
Joint Working Group on Realization of International Standards for Human Rights in Azerbaijan announced opinions and suggestions on the recommendations by Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and OSCE/ODIHR related to the appendices and amendments made to 145 articles of Election Code.
The office of CIS Observation Mission that will follow the presidential elections in Azerbaijan on October 15 will be officially opened on September 16. three members of the office would start work on September 14, later other members of the office, as well as the observers accredited from CIS embassies in Baku would join the process and the number of long-term observers will reach 25-30. 250 people are expected to observe the elections on the day of voting.
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) started to operate in Azerbaijan as a certification body on “ratification of rules for recognition and applying of international and inter-state standards, norms and recommendations in Azerbaijan”.
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) gave 20 new wells to the balance of Boring Office in “Neft Dahslari” oilfield. But the transportation of oil via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan was ceased temporarily as the result of the fire on the BV30 section of the BTC pipeline in Turkey in the morning on Aug. 6. And from August 21, the transportation of oil produced in “Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli” oilfield dot in Azerbaijani part of the Caspian Sea, via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan was restarted. Presently, the oil is transported in limited volume and rarely. The complete transportation of oil will be reinstated after the test works finish. Besides, the SOCAR made an agreement on transportation of oil via Iran area to world market, in order to compensate the delay appeared in oil exportation because of events in Georgia and temporary cease in BTC. According to the agreement, some 300 000 ton oil of Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli oilfields will be transported from Sanagachal terminal to Iran’s Neka port via the Caspian Sea. And Iran will export this oil from Persian Gulf. State Committee for Securities under the Auspices of the President of Azerbaijan set state registration for AZN 10 mln. shares of “Accord Reconstruction-Industry” OJSC and AZN 1 mln. shares of “Gala Insuranse” OJSC.
According to the strategy of regions’ socio-economic development, a two-storey business center consisting of 33 private shops was opened in Nakhchivan. 110 persons were employed in fruit market with 68 seats, and a cafe with 80 seats.
A decree was signed on “the state program on reliable food supply of population in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2008-2015”. Basic part of minimum wages and age pensions was increased in Azerbaijan. According to the order, the minimum wage has been raised by 25 percent and is set at AZN 75 as from September 1.