Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Turan on 2nd
September

Baku, 1st September: "We think that the law 'On the Central
Electoral Commission [CEC]' should be revised. The CEC should
be formed while taking into account the interests of all
political forces," Gerard Stoudmann, director of the Office for
Human Rights and Democratic Institutions of the OSCE, told
[Azerbaijani] Speaker Murtuz Aleskerov at today's meeting with
the latter. Stoudmann added that after the adoption of the new
law "On the CEC" in the first reading, a round table should be
held with the participation of all political forces.

Stoudmann also touched on the law "On the regulations
concerning municipal elections". In his words, the elections
will encounter numerous difficulties. "We can prepare changes
to the law, which will remove any ambiguities existing in the
law," he said.

Stoudmann said that Azerbaijani laws still in force from
the USSR period should be brought into line with OSCE
principles. In particular, he spoke about the need to adopt the
law "On the prosecutor's office". "I hope that this law will be
adopted while taking into account the proposals of
international organizations," Stoudmann said.
Stoudmann said that at the end of the 20th century
Azerbaijan had come face-to-face with two key problems:
Karabakh and the issue of building a strong civic society.
"It is wrong to think that international organizations
rather than Azerbaijan will settle the country's problems. They
can merely assist in the settlement of these problems. The OSCE
can assist in this regard," Stoudmann said.

In turn, Aleskerov said that the law "On elections" meets
international standards and guarantees the holding of
democratic, fair and free elections. He said that when the law
on municipal elections was adopted the recommendations of the
OSCE and other international organizations were taken into
account. Aleskerov promised that elections would be held in an
atmosphere of full openness. Broad possibilities will be
created for the press and international and local observers
during the elections.

Aleskerov added that the commission on legal reforms under
the president should submit the bill "On the prosecutor's
office" to parliament in the near future.

Source: Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian 0505 gmt 02 Sep 99
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