US GOVERNMENT REGRESTS OVER NOT ALLOWING TWO AZERY OPPOSITION PARTIES IN ELECTIONS

06.10.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. The US government regrets the action by Azerbaijani authorities to disqualify two of four major opposition parties – Musavat and Democratic Party of Azerbaijan – from submitting proportional candidates lists in parliamentary elections scheduled November 5. In his statement the Deputy Spokesman of the US State Department Philip Reeker pointed out that Musavat party was prevented from contesting 1995 parliamentary elections as well.
“The exclusion of the aforementioned opposition parties jeopardizes the potential for the conduct of free and fair elections in November. We urge the Azeri authorities to act to allow candidates of these parties to compete through proportional lists as well as in majority constituencies in the upcoming elections,” the statement says. –0–