International Conference is held in Baku on the theme of “Development of civil society and funding of NGOs by the state: experience gained and new opportunities”

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Mətbuat xidmətinin məlumatı 29 November, 2010

With the initiative of the State Support Board to Non-governmental Organisations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, an international conference with the title of “Development of civil society and funding of NGOs by the state: experience gained and new opportunities” started its work on 25 November. International experts specialized in NGO related issues from the United States, European and CIA countries, representatives of donor organisations, overall 120 delegates from 25 countries, as well as representatives of Azerbaijan Government bodies attend the event. Azay Guliyev, Chairman of the State Board opened the event and talked about its purpose and objectives. Having brought to attention the rapid development of civil society, A.Guliyev mentioned that in the last three years, NGO-state cooperation has been advanced to the high level. With the Decree of the President Ilham Aliyev, approval of the Conception on state support to non-governmental organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the establishment of the State Board on Support to Non-Governmental Organisations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Having made a speech at the event, Ali Hasanov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the State Committee on Refugees and IDPs Issues and the Chairman of the Republican Commission on International Humanitarian Assistance, said that the Government of Azerbaijan pays particular attention to the development of NGOs. A.Hasanov, who emphasized inappropriateness of a unique form of the development of civil society in any country, mentioned the necessity of the consideration of national peculiarities in this process. He also mentioned that Azerbaijan has already shaped its civil society experience referring to the international experience and applying to the experience appropriate to our national spiritual values. The Deputy Prime Minister also said that despite big challenges in the development of the civil society caused by the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan has passed certain development strategy in this process. Currently more than 2,600 NGOs are operating in Azerbaijan and 107 out of them are international organisations. The Government of Azerbaijan is closely cooperating with 70 of these organisations. There is quite transparent condition for their activity in Azerbaijan. Kiif Simmon, the Country Coordinator of the US International Development Agency (USAİD), Mrs Arlene Lear, the Vice President of the Counterpart International, Ambassador Ali Bilge Cankorel, the Head of OSCE Baku Office, Farda Asadov, Executive Director of Baku Office of the Open Society Institute – Relief Fund have mentioned that holding the conference is an indicator of the fulfilment of pledges of Azerbaijan taken in the direction of civil society development. NGOs in Azerbaijan and civil society organisations are constructively involved by the Government in solution of various social-political problems. It was mentioned that the establishment of the Board should be highly appreciated regarding the development of the civil society, financing of NGOs, extending and coordination of their activity. The support of the Government eliminates the dependency of NGOs from external donors and at the same time strengthens their sustainability. The speeches included some suggestions in the direction of the development of civil society. Then the international conference continued its work in several sessions dedicated to the themes of “NGO-Government Cooperation in the development of civil society”, “Involvement of an NGO by the state in provision of services needed in economic and social fields”, and “international partnership for the sake of the development of civil society”. The conference will complete its work on 26 November.