Baku. Konul Kamilgizi - APA. Allocating USD $ 2.4 million grant by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the development of independent media in Azerbaijan caused a wide resonance, APA reports.
Short period (June 30 - July 7, 2014), and the lack of transparency about delivering the advertisement to community are emphasizing on the report spread on media.
It is noted that even the most experienced NGOs can not write project for such an impressive sum in a week. Another important nuance is that the media was not informed about the grant. In other words, the United States secretly announced a grant for the development of media in Azerbaijan.
According to the report, USAID office a month earlier had informed several pro-Western organizations that may win, about the grant. As for transparency of information, had published advertisement on some site that not socialized
Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy expressed its official attitude on the above subject. According to the press service of the Embassy, as in worldwide, USAID is on the side of healthy competition among attendants and transparency in these matters.
"The reports about the secret grant of USAID for the development of media in Azerbaijan are untrue. First, the information about the project was published on the website www.grants.gov and it was available to the public from May 21 to July 7, 2014"- the embassy said.
"Recently I learned that USAID has allocated 2.4 million dollars for the development of media in Azerbaijan and especially without advertising. Whereas the agency used to realize an extensive advertising campaign of their projects. "
The chairman of the "Network of freedom of speech," Central Asia and the Caucasus (CASCFEN) Azer Hasrat told APA.
According to him, such projects announced in advance, in NGOs in this regard come numerous emails, etc.. "Now everything is done secretly, quietly, and also late. In an announcement published on June 30 said that treatment be accepted until July 7. During this time, no NGO can prepare proposals. For the most powerful international media would have more time for this, and for far less. I think this approach of USAID talks about some dark nuances. Here or there is any kickbacks or agency simply makes it possible for individual organizations. As head of the NGO, as a journalist I also would like to compete for this grant. Of course, if I was aware of at the right time, and it would not be such a temporary time pressure. But, apparently, USAID, which gave information almost secretly, deprived us of the opportunity. This causes doubt. Here to recall two million dollars cashed former director office of the National Democratic Institute of USA (NDI) in Azerbaijan Alex Grigorevs. Have not forgotten the debate about the purpose of these funds on the destabilization of the situation in Azerbaijan before the elections. Apparently, today USAID creates a condition for organizations that known by themselves - "fifth column" in Azerbaijan. Another curious detail - USAID has not called the applicants for such large sum. Similar reticence can be seen in the activities of another American organization NED - National Foundation for Democracy. On the foundation's Web site names Georgian and Armenian organizations, whom funds are allocated are listed as Azerbaijan but not the names of who realized. Website limited to the project name. Given all this, you can come to two conclusions: either these American organizations, together or separately, are engaged in money laundering or hatching some evil plans with an eye on parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan to be held in 2015. Otherwise, information about the grant with such an impressive amount would not be so secretive. So there is something clean. From this perspective, the relevant authorities in Azerbaijan should pay close attention to what is happening. Especially considering that "democratic developments" in the Middle East started out by similar means”.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
