Baku News

10-05-2005 BakuToday - The upcoming parliament elections will be fair, said president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Rene van Der Linden, speaking of the socio-political situation in PACE member states and the future elections at a recent news conference, said the Council of Europe is closely following the developments on the eve of the November 6 vote in Azerbaijan. The PACE president said he has recently visited the country and held talks with Azeri officials on the issue. He voiced confidence that the needed steps will be taken to hold a democratic poll. Linden said all suitable conditions have been provided for active civil participation in the elections. The Council of Europe will send a large number of observers to Azerbaijan to monitor the process, he added. Five CE parliament members will arrive in the country on October 10 to examine the pre-election climate.