THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN 3 OCTOBER 1993 On 3 September 1993, at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the CSCE ODIHR conveyed to all participating States the Republic of Azerbaijan's invitation for observers from CSCE states to monitor the Presidential elections scheduled for 3 October 1993. A handful of observers from CSCE countries - namely Turkey and United Kingdom - monitored this election. Embassy staff of CSCE states in Baku and foreign NGOs also observed. Prior to the election, the CSCE ODIHR representative helped Azeri authorities arrange a programme for all observers, including meetings and visits of polling stations on election day. The CSCE representative met with the Central Electoral Commission director, with Acting President Geydar Aliev and other candidates as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Hassan Hassanov. On the basis of their monitoring, CSCE observers in Baku and in other parts of the country, shared the feeling that, generally, this electoral process was sufficiently correct and allowed the unimpeded expression of people's choice. Although it cannot be denied that, due to the severe living conditions prevailing in Azerbaijan as well as to the exceptional situation created by the war in Nagorno-Karabakh and the ensuing refugee flow, this election did not entirely meet the criteria for a fully democratic process. Nevertheless, voting took place under normal conditions, electoral registers were displayed outside polling stations, voting booths were provided everywhere and no military or police presence was noted in and around polling stations. However, some "family" votes (one person voting for other members of his/her family) were noted. Latest estimations referred to a voting participation of 96,7% and to an overwhelming percentage of votes in favour of Acting President Geydar Aliev. Thus, Mr. Aliev capitalised on increasing support from the majority of Azeris since the August referendum, as there is little support from public media and state apparatus, including even the Central Electoral Commission. The two other candidates were little known and had not enough time to compete on an equal basis with the Acting President. The widely shared feeling among Azeris for a strong leadership that could deliver peace and stability, as embodied in Acting President Aliev, seemed to have rendered almost impossible any thorough discussions on political, economic and security issues among candidates. The CSCE representative also visited several polling stations in the Azeri enclave of Nakhichevan currently under a five-year blockade by Armenia. Despite drastic living conditions and attempts in one place to disrupt the election, the population of Nakhichevan showed a clear will to take part in the vote, and the electoral process in general was run in accordance with rules and practice consistent with CSCE principles. The ODIHR feels advisable to make the following comments and recommendations: -- relevant provisions for a strict neutrality in media coverage of the current situation and of the electoral campaign - through, inter alia, appropriate control procedures - as well as equal time slots for candidates on TV/Radio, should be contained in legislation. -- voter secrecy should be more strictly enforced. -- no "family" voting should be allowed; cultural differences should be overcome by wider civic education and better explanation on TV programmes. -- the use of logos or symbols for candidates/parties would facilitate voting, especially for illiterate people. -- in order to prevent ballot box stuffing, voting bulletins should be stamped when they are received and after they have been used. CSCE ODIHR BULLETIN Vol. 2, No. 1 23