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â€œCivil Society Dialogueâ€™ project presented in Baku

02 June 2016 15:13 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ramiz Mikayiloglu â€“ APA. Project â€œCivil Society Dialogueâ€, co-initiated by the Council of Europe and the European Union in Azerbaijan, was presented in Baku on June 2.

Addressing the presentation ceremony, Ali Hasanov, the Azerbaijani presidentâ€™s aide for public and political affairs, said that Azerbaijan pays much attention to formation and development of civil societies and NGOs in the country.

â€œWe can say that Azerbaijan managed to create a favorable legal framework the regulating activities of public organizations. Some public sector representatives and international organizations have lately raised their concern over some amendments made to the law, thinking that they would be an obstacle before development of the third sector. But experience shows that these amendments are in fact intended to enhance transparency, accountability, and discipline in this area, and facilitate relations between NGOs and state bodies,â€ Hasanov noted. Â

According to information released in mid-2016, there are up to 3,000 NGOs registered in Azerbaijan, and the total number of non-commercial organizations is well over 4,000, the top official said.

At present, Azerbaijan is considered the largest donor for civil society organizations, according to Hasanov.

He went on to say that the Council of State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Youth Foundation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, created for this purpose, are specialized institutions in financing projects of all NGOs, including youth organizations.

More than AZN 33 million was allocated to more than 5,000 projects through these organizations over three years and a half, the top official said. Â

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Hasanov said stressed that the strategic objectives of Azerbaijan regarding civil societies are reflected in â€œAzerbaijan 2020 Vision into the Futureâ€ Development Concept.

Addressing the event, Claudia Luciani, director of Democratic Governance at the Council of Europe, noted that intense and difficult discussions on this project were held with the Azerbaijani government.

â€œThe Azerbaijani government supported this project a year ago. We will cooperate within the project for 2 years. Azerbaijan is an important member of the Council of Europe. This project is of great importance for civil society as well. Freedom of expression and freedom of assembly is essential for civil society. Civil society is also important for the development of a pluralistic democracy. This project is part of a plan on civil society. The first goal of the project is to develop the legal framework for improvement of the work of NGOs in Azerbaijan. We will try to adjust the Azerbaijani legislation to standards of the Council of Europe as much as possible. The second goal is to increase the potential of both NGOs and government structures having related to NGOs. Azerbaijani experience in the field of NGOs may be used by other countries in the future,â€ she added.

Luciani noted that the CoE Secretary General urged member countries to improve conditions for NGOs.

In his speech at the event, Deputy Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan Toghrul Musayev said that Azerbaijanâ€™s relations with the Council of Europe are developing. Â

â€œAs a result of our cooperation, the Action Plan was adopted in 2014. The project â€œCivil Society Dialogueâ€ serves strengthening cooperation between the government and NGOs,â€ he stressed.

Musayev said supporting the third sector is one of the main directions of Azerbaijanâ€™s state policy.

â€œLegislative acts in this field are constantly being improved. The law â€œOn public participation in Azerbaijanâ€ entered into force on June 1, 2014.Â The National Action Plan for 2016-2018 on Promotion of Open Government expresses support for NGOs. I believe that the successful implementation of the project will increase the potential of NGOs,â€ the deputy minister added.

Dragana Filipovic, head of the Council of Europe Office in Baku, noted that the establishment of the Council of State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is a manifestation of dialogue between the government and the NGOs.

â€œActive media and judiciary independence are an integral part of dynamic democracy. This project is a good platform for the Council of Europe, European Union and other partners to work together,â€ she said.

Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Malena Mard said it is a very good start that government officials and NGOs are sitting at one table.

"Open society is essential for long-term development. The European Union will spend 90 million euros on 17 civil society projects, and projects on media, discrimination, poverty reduction, and development of Azerbaijani society will be funded. We have two years ahead and over this period we will be able to share the best practices. Our main goal is to achieve concrete results for the people of Azerbaijan," he said.

The deputy executive director of the Council of State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations under the President, Rauf Majidli, talked about the work carried out for the development of the NGO sector. Â