Calling for Free and Fair Parliamentary Elections in the Republic of Azerbaijan
CALLING FOR FREE AND FAIR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN -- (House of Representatives - July 18, 2005)
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Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 326, of which I am an original co-sponsor, along with my colleagues Mr. GALLEGLY and Mr. WEXLER. I thank them for their initiative in crafting this resolution which calls on the Government of Azerbaijan to hold free and fair elections this fall.
Azerbaijan is an important country. It is located in a strategic region, is energy-rich and is a moderate Muslim state that enjoys good relations with the United States. We have a major stake in Azerbaijan's successful democratization and integration into Western institutions.
Unfortunately, however, OSCE monitors have not been able to certify an election held in Azerbaijan in the last 10 years as meeting international standards,. During the October 2003 presidential election, clashes broke out between government forces and supporters of opposition parties who claimed election fraud. Afterwards, the authorities launched a countrywide crackdown on the opposition; only recently have Azerbaijan authorities begun to allow demonstrations again.
The upcoming parliamentary election-the first under the country's new, young leadership-is critical to Azerbaijan's progress towards the Western community of nations. It is a key indicator of President Ilham Aliev's intentions: does he want to reform the system or to continue with same old, tired business as usual?
The stakes are higher than which parties and candidates get in Azerbaijan's parliament. Over the last 18 months, multi-colored" revolutions took place in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. All were sparked by elections perceived by many voters in those countries as unfair, a view shared by OSCE observer missions. If Azerbaijan's election this November does not make major improvements over October 2003, there is a real chance of confrontation again, with unpredictable consequences.
I am deeply convinced that the stability we all seek in Azerbaijan is only possible through democracy. For that reason, the November election must be free and fair. Whoever wins, it is essential that Azerbaijan's citizens and the international community see the outcome as legitimate.
A key ingredient of fair elections is impartial election commissions. At this point, there are no such bodies in Azerbaijan. Since 2003, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, along with the OSCE's Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, have consistently urged that Azerbaijan's election commissions, which are reliably pro-government, be reconfigured so as to "enjoy public confidence."
In fact, this issue goes back even farther-the Helsinki Commission, which I co-chair, held a hearing in May 2000 on the November 2000 parliamentary election, at which representatives of Azerbaijan's government and opposition testified. At that time as well, the composition of election commissions was one of the most heated points of contention between government and opposition.
Unfortunately, these differences have not been bridged. Azerbaijan's authorities have rejected the recommendations of the OSCE and the Venice Commission. I am extremely disappointed that Azerbaijan's parliament passed an election law on June 29 without incorporating key suggestions by the Venice Commission on election commissions and domestic monitoring.
With the law as it now stands, and with election commissions unchanged, the election will not be able to meet OSCE standards. It is already clear that the OSCE and the Council of Europe will not be able to give a passing grade to the election. Nor will the law enjoy public confidence in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani officials occasionally protest that there is not enough time between now and November to change the law. But lack of time is not the problem. They have had years to implement these recommendations-the problem is that they refuse to do so.
Nevertheless, I believe there is still time for Baku to do what is right. That is why I cosponsored this resolution. I call on my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 326, which will convey to Baku that the U.S. Congress is closely watching and will draw the appropriate conclusions.
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