OSCE/ODIHR Director visits Azerbaijan to review preparations for upcoming presidential elections
ODIHR Director Strohal at a press conference in Vienna, 10 April 2003. (OSCE/Ayhan Evrensel) Photo details
WARSAW, 24 April 2003 - The Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Christian Strohal, arrived in Baku today for a first visit to Azerbaijan.
Ambassador Strohal, who has been heading the OSCE's human rights office since early March, will review preparations for the presidential election scheduled for this autumn. He is also expected to address other issues related to Azerbaijan's democratization process and human rights situation.
During his two-day visit, the ODIHR Director will meet President Heydar Aliyev, as well as representatives of the Government, political parties and civil society. Meetings with Azerbaijan's Ombudsperson and the Speaker of Parliament are also scheduled.
The ODIHR, Europe's leading election monitoring institution, plans to observe the upcoming presidential election, the first vote to be held under the new Election Code, which is expected to be adopted by parliament soon.
Ambassador Strohal, who has been heading the OSCE's human rights office since early March, will review preparations for the presidential election scheduled for this autumn. He is also expected to address other issues related to Azerbaijan's democratization process and human rights situation.
During his two-day visit, the ODIHR Director will meet President Heydar Aliyev, as well as representatives of the Government, political parties and civil society. Meetings with Azerbaijan's Ombudsperson and the Speaker of Parliament are also scheduled.
The ODIHR, Europe's leading election monitoring institution, plans to observe the upcoming presidential election, the first vote to be held under the new Election Code, which is expected to be adopted by parliament soon.