[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 121 (Monday, September 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          AZERBAIJAN ELECTIONS

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                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 14, 1998

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on October 11, presidential 
elections will take place in Azerbaijan. At the moment, the leading 
opposition parties are boycotting the election, largely because of 
continuing disagreements with the government over the composition of 
the Central Election Commission. They have embarked on a series of 
rallies and demonstrations, and the atmosphere in Baku has become quite 
tense. In fact, Reuters has reported from the opposition that about 100 
people were hurt on Saturday during a long rally in the capital's city 
center.
  The National Democratic Institute (NDI) has observers in Azerbaijan 
in preparation for the October election. According to NDI's statement, 
``NDI representatives witnessed the attempts of political parties to 
conduct a publicly-announced rally. The rally was obstructed by police 
and others who used violence against the demonstrators to prevent a 
public gathering and disperse them . . . NDI condemns the use of 
violence by police and others against demonstrators. Such actions 
violate the Azerbaijani Constitution's guarantees of the rights of free 
assembly and expression. They raise substantial doubts about whether 
the official respect for law and dissent that are indispensable for 
democratic elections exist in Azerbaijan.''
  Against this background, five Members of the Helsinki Commission, of 
which I am Co-Chairman, recently sent a letter to President Aliev, 
urging him to continue talks with the opposition and find a formula 
that would permit broad participation in the election. I would like to 
enter the full text of that letter into the Record.

                                        Commission on Security and


                                        Cooperation in Europe,

                                  Washington, DC, August 25, 1998.
     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 OSCE/ODIHR and the 
     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 OSCE 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 to 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.
           Sincerely,
     Christopher H. Smith, M.C.,
       Co-Chairman.
     Frank R. Wolf, M.C.,
       Commissioner.
     Benjamin L. Cardin, M.C.,
       Commissioner.
     Alfonse D'Amato, U.S.S.,
       Chairman.
     Steny H. Hoyer, M.C.,
       Ranking Member.

       

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