Incident

Incident

Kamran Aliyev: â€œAzerbaijan overtook the European countries and even left them behind on some issues in the field of fighting corruptionâ€

17 February 2012 08:15 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ali Ahmadov â€“ APA. APAâ€™s interview with the head of Anti-Corruption Department under Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev

- What novelties are expected in the field of fighting corruption in Azerbaijan?

- Basic novelties will be enhancement of legislation. We have quite advanced legislative basis. This field should be regularly enhanced along with the development of society and government institutions. The novelties will be the elaboration and adoption of draft laws on criminal liability of legal entities, investigative procedure, specification of actions considered as corruption crimes and etc. These are very serious changes. The adoption of a law on criminal liability of legal entities will seriously change fundamental principles of the countryâ€™s legislation. These changes could cover both civil and criminal legislations.

- Are the institutional changes of state agencies considered within these measures?

- Yes, future action plan will consider institutional changes as well. It will include improvement of work of different state agencies, prevention of conditions causing corruption in the state agencies, establishing more useful and modern work with the non-governmental organizations.

- What do you mean by establishing useful work with the non-governmental organizations?

- There could be different forms. Heretofore the citizens couldnâ€™t appeal via hotline and its implementation improved these relations. Hereafter the work can be directed on separate spheres and these directions will be specified not on state institutions, but on civil groups. It includes, for example, the groups of holders of pension, women, students and others, who face corruption. We have to work with such civil groups to prevent corruption.

- What can you say about the level of corruption in the municipalities?

-The criminal cases were launched on corruption in the municipalities and the investigation was carried out. We informed the Centre for Work with Municipalities of the Ministry of Justice on these matters. I consider that sometimes inexperienced people are being elected as municipal authorities. Even previously criminally liable people are appointed to these leading posts. Office work and documentation are not carried out correctly in the municipalities. I consider that the legislation should be improved â€“ now this process is being carried out and I consider that it will bring results in future.

-One of the steps in the sphere of fighting corruption in some countries is a financial amnesty â€“ to start relations in this sphere from â€œwhite pageâ€. Do we need this measure in our country?

-I support progressive way of these processes. I think the current method is efficient because observations show that corruption can not be prevented surgically. The best method is enhancement.

- Can you say when level of corruption in Azerbaijan will drop to same level with Europe or at least Eastern Europe?

- It is very interesting but difficult question, because the situation in this sphere changes rapidly. The situation 10 years, even 5 years ago is not the same with the current situation. The negative cases in this sphere were completely eliminated as a result of various measures â€“ shift to card system in giving of salary and pension. The application of e-management gave us an opportunity to prevent easily the issues which were difficult to settle 3-5 years ago. I consider that the current measures will have effects in a short time.
Generally, I think that we overtook and even left behind the European countries on some issues. But we must seriously work and use various means in some spheres.

- Some consider that one of the reasons which create conditions for corruption is the existence of voids in the laws and non-showing of details. This situation gives wide opportunities to the officials for maneuvering without breaking the law while passing decision on some issues. In your opinion, how much is this case actual for corruption?

- There are also such cases. But the officials are not robots â€“ there is a definition of legal consciousness and juridical culture. I consider that it is impossible to consider all living situations in the law, the human factor attains great significance in this sphere. Disinterested, neutral, conscientious human factor is one of the important factors during the application of new law.