CSCE NEWS RELEASE ON LETTER TO AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ALIEV
USIA
02 September 1998
TEXT: CSCE NEWS RELEASE ON LETTER TO AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ALIEV
(Urges Aliev to conginue negotiations with the opposition) (690)
Washington -- The Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation
in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, released September 2
the text of a letter to Azerbaijan's President Heydar Aliev about the
forthcoming October 11 presidential election.
Following is the text of the press release including the letter:
(Begin text)
Helsinki Commission Urges President Aliev to Continue Negotiations
with
the Opposition
For Immediate Release
Chadwick R. Gore
September 2, 1998
(202) 225-1901
Washington, DC -- Today the Commission on Security and Cooperation in
Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, released the text of a
letter to Azerbaijan's President Heydar Aliev about the forthcoming
October 11 presidential election. Signed by Commission Chairman Sen.
Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY), Co-Chairman Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ),
and Commissioner Reps. Frank R. Wolf (R-VA), Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD),
and Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), the letter commends President Aliev for
previously made changes in the election law and pledging to hold free
and fair elections in accord with Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe commitments. Since the leading opposition
parties are nevertheless planning to boycott the election-and no talks
between the government and the opposition are taking place-the letter
calls upon Aliev to continue negotiations which his representatives
have already begun with opposition leaders "to find a mutually
acceptable formula that will permit broad participation in the
election."
Full Text of Letter Follows:
His Excellency Heydar Aliev
President
Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku, Azerbaijan
Dear Mr. President:
The Helsinki Commission has been closely monitoring the preparations
for the October 11 presidential election in Azerbaijan. This election
is particularly significant and will have major ramifications both on
your country's democratization and on the prospects for peace in the
Caucasus region.
After years of mutual suspicion and recriminations between the
government and the opposition, the upcoming election offers a chance
for reconciliation and the establishment of much-needed consensus
within Azerbaijani society. An election deemed free and fair by
Azerbaijanis and international observers will endow the government
with unquestioned legitimacy and help to undo the consequences of the
flawed parliamentary election of November 1995.
Moreover, a process of government-opposition reconciliation in
Azerbaijan is essential to facilitate a resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Though the 1994 cease fire remains in
effect, the peace process, unfortunately, has bogged down. In order to
restart the negotiations, the parties to the conflict will have to
make difficult choices, which will not be politically feasible without
strong backing from their electorates.
It is therefore all the more regrettable that major Azerbaijani
opposition parties have not found it possible to take part in the
election. We recognize that the election law originally passed by
parliament, which the opposition found unacceptable, has been
substantially modified over the last few months, with input from
experts at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's
Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the
[U.S.-based] National Democratic Institute. Various demands put
forward by the opposition have been met. Particularly important was
the recent announcement of the abolition of censorship, which, we
hope, will be consistently implemented, and will, in fact, signal the
end of all political censorship in Azerbaijan.
We commend your willingness to make these changes in the law, and your
pledge to hold free and fair elections, in accord with Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe commitments. Nevertheless, the
opposition boycott remains in effect, primarily because of continued
differences over the composition of the Central Election Commission. A
presidential election without the leading opposition parties-no matter
how many other candidates take part-will not promote stability or
resolve the most pressing issues facing Azerbaijan at this historic
juncture. With the election now less than two months away, very little
time remains to reach agreement. We urge you to redouble your efforts
and continue the negotiations which your representatives have already
begun with opposition leaders to find a mutually acceptable formula
that will permit broad participation in the election.
(End text)