MINSK, 18 September (BelTA) - Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Igor Karpenko met with Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Tajikistan Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda on 18 September, BelTA has learned.
According to Igor Karpenko, the CECs of the CIS countries interact on a regular basis within the Advisory Council of Heads of Electoral Bodies, discuss ways to improve election observation methods. “I am convinced of one thing: we do not need election assessors. We need international observers who will answer the main question: to what extent does the electoral process comply with the norms of the national legislation? No more than that. For the rest, there are legislative bodies, the government, presidents, who determine the country's development strategy, in what direction the country will move, and how the legislation will be developed,” he said.
Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda thanked for the invitation to become a participant of the forum. “We are always happy to visit our friendly Belarus,” he said. “Electoral processes should lead to unity and harmony in society. We have all witnessed situations when ill-wishing forces from outside, using unhealthy forces inside the state, do everything for the election campaign to dismember the society. This has never led to good. We are in favor of honest, objective and impartial international observation, not biased or one-sided or with some certain personal goals,” he added.
According to Igor Karpenko, the CECs of the CIS countries interact on a regular basis within the Advisory Council of Heads of Electoral Bodies, discuss ways to improve election observation methods. “I am convinced of one thing: we do not need election assessors. We need international observers who will answer the main question: to what extent does the electoral process comply with the norms of the national legislation? No more than that. For the rest, there are legislative bodies, the government, presidents, who determine the country's development strategy, in what direction the country will move, and how the legislation will be developed,” he said.
The Belarus CEC head expressed gratitude to the chairman of the Central Election Commission of Tajikistan for participation in the International Electoral Forum in Minsk: “I think that we will have an opportunity to exchange expert opinions, to consider the pressing issues in relation to the electoral systems, and to discuss a fairly extensive agenda,” he said.
Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda thanked for the invitation to become a participant of the forum. “We are always happy to visit our friendly Belarus,” he said. “Electoral processes should lead to unity and harmony in society. We have all witnessed situations when ill-wishing forces from outside, using unhealthy forces inside the state, do everything for the election campaign to dismember the society. This has never led to good. We are in favor of honest, objective and impartial international observation, not biased or one-sided or with some certain personal goals,” he added.
Follow us on:
