Transparency International Azerbaijan: "Country's low rating in Corruption Perceptions Index raises concern"

It should be noted that this index made 2.1 in 2007 and 1.9 in 2008.

The due statement is contained in the announcement of the national division on the report of Transparency International, released Tuesday.

According to the announcement, Azerbaijan has demonstrated a stable growth of its rating from 1.8 points in 2003 to its top of 2.4 points in 2006 which was connected with a number of measures, taken by the government and the civil society.

The statement also says that the government is executing the national strategy on raising transparency and fighting corruption for 2007-2010, adopted with participation of the representatives of the public and international organizations.

"Azerbaijan is the only country in the Transparency International movement, represented in more than 90 countries of the world, having five centers of protection of public interests and legal support, providing legal assistance to the victims of corruption", says the statement.

According to it, in line with the Doing Business 2009 report of the World Bank, Azerbaijan led the list as the best reformer country for 2007-2008 in the world, demonstrating improvement on 7 out of 10 indicators of regulative reforms.

Along with improvement of the business climate, reflected in this report, Transparency International- Azerbaijan also sees significant changes in the execution of court decisions, hiring for state service, the system of pensions calculation and creation of institutional mechanisms for consideration of claims, especially in the Ministry of Education.

"Yet, the Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International is a complex index, which includes 8 different sources on Azerbaijan, with five of them built on the data of the past two years. Such complex of sources does not allow to reflect most positive reforms and achievements in the duly manner.

The changes in the public perceptions and understanding of progressive reforms require time. Transparency International - Azerbaijan is confident that the results of these efforts will soon be reflected in the reports, like it was with the Doing Business 2009 report, which will improve the country's rating in the Index", says the statement.

/Day.Az/