She told Trend the Steering group on NAMA establishing will hold 4 meetings till the end of 2006. "A certain number of issues remain to be discussed among the members and observers of the Steering Group, such as the internal structure and statutes of the association, the communication and distribution of information, the financial sustainability, etc. Therefore another 4 meetings of the Steering Group should be organized until the end of the year 2006. The establishment of the Association could then take place in the first months of 2007."

According to her, the NAMA establishment project is supported by the Norwegian government through a financial contribution and the project works are implemented by the efforts of the CE Congress of Local and Regional Authorities jointly with the Norwegian Association of local and regional authorities.

Commenting on the visit of the chairman of the CE Congress of the Local and Regional Authorities Giovanni Di Stasi in Baku, Martin remarks, the Congress noted the necessity for the regional democracy development in Azerbaijan, which had been reflected in the recommendation 126 of 2003.

"In the field of the local self-government a number of legislative acts has been prepared, however these acts are needed to be in full compliance with the European Charter on local self-government," the spokeswoman of the Congress secretariat noted, underscoring the necessity to continue legal reforms in the field.

"Giovanni Di Stasi will raise these issues again during his official visit to Baku and will encourage the country's authorities to continue cooperation with the Council of Europe to improve the legislation on municipalities," Martin summarized.