Transparency Azerbaijan, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), organized a roundtable to discuss Further development of the legal basis for combating corruption in Azerbaijan. The roundtable was the last in a series organized by Transparency Azerbaijan to facilitate dialogue between the state institutions and NGOs on increasing transparency and accountability. Representatives of the Apparatus of Milli Majlis (Parliament), Members of Parliament (MP) as well as local and international NGO representatives participated in the roundtable.

Since 2000, the Azerbaijani Parliament have taken legal initiatives, such as changes to Criminal and Administrative Codes and Codes of Criminal and Administrative Procedures aimed at strengthening liability and expanding applicability of legal norms for corruption-related offenses, as well as adoption of a number of laws (including the Law on Criminal Liability of Legal Persons) and on-going law-making initiatives (including draft Code of Urban Building and Construction). Participants agreed that, despite Parliament’s efforts to create anti-corruption normative-legal basis, challenges remain, including absense of legal protection for whistle blowers. Despite adoption of the Law on Submission of Tax Returns for public officials, the law is not applied in practice due to a lack of supporting legal acts, namely a declaration form and receiving entity for MPs. Roundtable participants identified and discussed current deficiencies in efforts aimed at minimizing opportunities for corrupt practices in  all sectors of public adminstration system and proposed legal initatives to increase transparency and accountability in this area.

Transparency Azerbaijan, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), organized a roundtable to discuss Reforms and Problems in the Notary Public Service.  The roundtable was one in a series organized by Transparency Azerbaijan to facilitate dialogue between the government institutions and NGOs on increasing transparency and accountability. Representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the State Anti-Corruption Commission, the Prosecutor General’s Anti-Corruption Department, as well as local and international NGO representatives participated in the roundtable.

Participants agreed that despite Government of Azerbaijan efforts to ensure transparency and efficiency of the notary pubic offices by introduction of information tableaus and post-terminals, introduction of the institute of private notary public, adoption of Rules of Ethical Behavior for notary public, a number of challenges in this area remain.  Roundtable participants identified and discussed current deficiencies in efforts to minimize opportunities for corrupt practices in the work of notary public, and proposed ways to increase transparency and accountability in this area.

Transparency Azerbaijan, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), organized a roundtable to discuss Problems in Registration of Real Estate.  The roundtable was one in a series organized by Transparency Azerbaijan aimed at facilitating dialogue between government institutions and NGOs on increasing transparency and accountability. Round table participants identified and discussed current deficiencies in efforts to minimize opportunities for corrupt practices in registration of real estate, and proposed ways to increase transparency and accountability in this area.

It is regretful that the authorized public agency - State Registry of Real Estate under State Property Committee decided not to participate in the event despite advanced invitation. It shall be mentioned that, very much unlike previous nine round tables organized by Transparency Azerbaijan in the previous year, this is the first time when a public agency refrained from discussion with the civil society.  Representatives of some public agencies, as well as local and international NGO representatives participated in the roundtable.

Monitoring of the execution of the May 23rd, 2011 Presidential decree which ordered the organization of electronic services for state bodies found that few state bodies have fully emplemented the order. Out of 284 electronic services provided by 41 state structures, only 41, or 14 percent, are fully operational.An additional 42 are partially operational. Sabit Bagirov, the president of the Foundation for the Assistance to the Development of Private Ownership and Market Economy, noted that most state structures have not carried out the decree. According to the decree, central state bodies should have established a special section for electronic services within 3 months. This section should list and provide public access to documents and contain an application form to aid additional inquiries.

According to the department manager of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies, the partially implementation of the decree is related to low technological expertise at many government bodies. To get report click here.

Transparency Azerbaijan, with support from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), organized a discussion of successes and challenges in water supply. The roundtable was one in a series organized by Transparency Azerbaijan to facilitate dialogue between the government institutions and NGOs on ways to increase transparency and accountability.  Representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Energy, Baku City Housing and Utilities Department, Prosecutor’s Office,  Anti-corruption Commission,  NGOs and International Organizations.

The relevant government entities had made some efforts to improve supply of water to the population and reduce corruption in this area of service. The new initiatives include the improvement of appeal mechanisms and their transparency, new contracts with consumers, installation of meters, and etc.

The main goal of the roundtable was to identify and discuss current deficiencies in efforts to minimize corrupt practices in supply of water to the population, as well as to enhance safety standards in this sector, and also explore ways to increase transparency and accountability in this area.

During the event Hanver Abasov, Head of Commercial Department of Azersu OJSV, spoke about recent reforms in supply of water to the population of Azerbaijan. Alimamed Nuriyev, President of the Constitution Research Fund and coordinator of Information and Cooperation Network of Anti-corruption NGOs, discussed existing problems in consumer-supplier relations in provision of water to the population. Alekper Agasiyev, an expert on the utilities sector from the Constitution Research Fund, talked about typical violations of the consumer’s rights by water suppliers. Rena Safaralieva, Executive Director of Transparency Azerbaijan made general recommendations on improving transparency in water supply.

The participants praised the value in this exchange of views between government and civil society. They made some other recommendations and suggestions on the improving transparency and accountability in the area of water supply which will be submitted in writing to the respective agencies. Participants also addressed the media at the end of the event.