U.S. CONCERNED ABOUT LOCAL ELECTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN.

Meeting on 20 May with Azerbaijani parliamentary International
Relations Committee Chairman Rza Ibadov, U.S. Ambassador
Stanley Escudero asked whether the parliament will be able to
enact by October legislation on municipalities and on
municipal elections, Turan reported. Those elections were due
two years ago. Also on 20 May, Turan's Washington
correspondent quoted exiled former Azerbaijani parliamentary
speaker Rasul Guliev as saying that in recent meetings he and
U.S. Congressional leaders agreed on the need for renewed
efforts to ensure free and fair elections in Azerbaijan. But
Musavat Party Chairman Isa Gambar told Turan he believes the
bill on municipal elections currently under discussion in the
parliament is undemocratic. He argued that the opposition
should boycott the polls. LF