Reports of Transparency International can not be necessarily considered as source of truth: Azerbaijani senior official

APA’s interview with chief of department on work with the law-enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan’s Presidential Administration, member of the Commission to Combat Corruption Fuad Alasgarov.

APA: How do you assess the work done to combat corruption in Azerbaijan?

Fuad Alasgarov: Corruption is characteristic of all societies and at the same time troubles all societies. Combating corruption is one of the main tasks of all states and societies. The aim of Azerbaijani state is to achieve economic and social development and improve life standards.

Our country has achieved high-level economic and social development over recent five years. One of the factors stimulating the development in the society is the complex struggle against corruption. Legal and institutional reforms meeting the international standards have been recently carried out in the country, State Program implemented, Commission to Combat Corruption and Department to Combat Corruption under Prosecutor General established.

New National Strategy for Increasing Transparency and Combating Corruption was adopted in 2007. The National Strategy prepared as a result of the political will of Azerbaijani President, within the framework of the democratic legal statehood and social-economic reforms, determines many-field, continuous and stage-by-stage measures.

The National Strategy is assessed as an effective method to combat corruption. Azerbaijan has joined all conventions in this field, actively participated in the global and regional initiatives, established close cooperation with the international organizations.

Azerbaijani delegation participated in the 6th Global Forum on Fighting Corruption in Doha, the capital of Qatar and the 3rd Session of the Conference of UN Anti-Corruption Convention. During the forum and conference meetings were held with the appropriate bodies of other states and international organizations, including Transparency International and Global Organization of Parliamentarians against Corruption (GOPAC).

Talks were held to organize joint events and strengthen cooperation between Azerbaijan and the above-mentioned organizations.

Q: Transparency International released 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). What do you think about this year’s index?

A: First of all I want to say that Transparency International is one of the international nongovernmental organizations in the field of combating corruption. Not only this organization, but also other organizations assess and index struggle against corruption. The assessments differ from one another, even sometimes there are contradictions.

The reports of the Transparency International can not be necessarily considered as a source of truth. This is also the position of the organization compiling the index.

Therefore, this organization’s index should be regarded as relative.

As the representatives of the Transparency International underline, sometimes states and mass media attach more importance to the the Index than expected.

We take into consideration this document and other sources to learn how the international organizations assess the work done in the country to combat corruption. I want to note that the main criterion in this list is not the state’s ranking, but its point.

Compared with previous year Azerbaijan’s point has increased from 1.9 point to 2.3. Azerbaijan has moved forward by 16 steps and has been included into the top five among CIS countries.

Q: Do 2.3 points describe real situation in Azerbaijan?

A: Index was composed on the basis of reports until the past two years. Measures taken in 2008-2009 were not taken into consideration in its composition. Important anti-corruption measures were taken and especially, ownership was developed and “single window” principle was implemented in most spheres in recent years.

As a result of World Bank’s Doing Business researches Azerbaijan was placed among the best reformer countries. Azerbaijan became exemplary country within Transparency Initiative and received higher awards of international organizations.

In June 2009, President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree on strengthening of measures against corruption in management of public and municipal properties. Criminal prosecution against corruption was strengthened and concrete results were achieved.

Transparency Azerbaijan Organization’s press release underlined positive changes in public service employment, account of pensions and mechanism of responding appeals, execution of court decisions and other fields. Government agencies working with business people showed professionalism in simplification of business procedures.

Work with civil society institutions was developed and large education and information events were organized.

The government showed its political will in anti-corruption struggle. The index is an indication of positive tendency in anti-corruption struggle. The country continues to move ahead in evaluations in this field. We would like the international organizations value this work more objectively and quickly. It is necessary to pay attention to the context of index composition to answer the mentioned question.

Transparency International doesn’t conduct opinion polls to research it.

The organization collected evaluations of other institutions and composes average figures. It used seven sources related to Azerbaijan to draw up the document this year. For example, we can show evaluations by World Bank, World Economic Forum, Freedom House and other organizations.

Q: How do you assess cooperation with international organizations in the field of anti-corruption struggle?

A: Azerbaijan highly appreciates cooperation with all international and local organizations. This cooperation is a part of transparency and national anti-corruption strategy. Non-governmental organizations and international institutions were determined as partners in fulfillment of measures described in the strategy.

Close cooperation was established with Transparency International. The organization has five regional offices in Azerbaijan. Transparency International organizes ALAC (protection of interests and legal consulting) trainings for representatives of other countries just in Azerbaijan and shows Azerbaijan as an exemplary country in this field. Anti-Corruption Commission and Transparency International are working within the NGO Cooperation and Information Network as well.

The government achieved to establish open dialogue with the civil society institutions via the Network.

/APA/