Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25
By Ilaha Khalilova - Trend:
The World Bank is considering the Azerbaijani government's proposals on increasing funding for the new project "Judicial Services and Smart Technologies Project" (JSSTP), Baku's office of the bank told Trend on Feb. 24.
"Currently, the inter-governmental discussions are being held," the office said. "The total demand in credit resources will be specified for the project implementation."
The bank has expressed willingness to deliver $ 100 million for the project, while the cost of the work is several times more than this amount.
"The formal negotiations on the loan agreement are expected to be launched between the government and the World Bank in mid-late March 2014," the office said. "A loan is expected to be approved at the Board of Directors by late June."
As opposed to the first project in the modernization of the judicial and legal system of the country, implemented by the World Bank since 2006, the project envisages using new procedures and approaches, proceeding from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's decree on the establishment of "e- court" information system on February 13, 2014.
The project envisages the construction of 12 courts and judicial systems. This will reduce the cost of their maintenance and operation. The specialized equipment is planned to be purchased to create the so-called "smart" courts. This will allow implementing electronic-judicial services.
"Electronic Court " system will envisage:
- Receiving of the applications, complaints and other documents in electronic form;
- Electronic circulation of documents and implementation of judicial proceedings of criminal, civil , administrative and economic cases in electronic form;
- Distribution of incoming court cases among judges in an automated manner;
- Preparation of an electronic schedule for case consideration;
- Delivery of information to the participants of the judicial process in electronic form ( e-mail, SMS messages, and so on );
- Registration of trials by audio, video and other recording equipment and the creation of opportunities to watch them online;
- Monitoring over the compliance with procedural deadlines of cases and informing about their expiration;
- Monitoring over execution of court decisions;
- Creation of the " personal cabinet " in the system, which allows to obtain information on the trial , the decisions and their execution, complaints or protests against them;
- Integration of the "Electronic Court" portal and the information system of the General Prosecutor's Office;
- Keeping of judicial statistics in electronic form;
- Storage of information in a systematic manner.
The project also envisages the actions on the institutional development of the judicial system, training, the creation of centers on legal aid to the poor, refugees, and internally displaced people.
The WB Board of Directors approved the judicial system modernization project in Azerbaijan on June 29, 2006. The total cost of the first project is $35.6 million. WB loans account for $21.6 million. The Japan Special Fund awarded a grant worth $3 million, while the share of the Azerbaijani government has provided $11 million. The project is designed for five years.
The WB's share in the project was allocated by the International Development Association (IDA). The IDA conditions are standard- a 35-year term with a 10-year beneficial period and 0.75 percent annual rate. Upon the expiration of the 10-year grace period, there would begin loan payments on 1.25 percent and from 2026 to 2041 - 2.5 percent.
In 2011 the WB Board of Directors approved additional financing for projects worth $9.2 million from the International Development Association (IDA), and $24.2 million - from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD is a part of WB).
The share of participation of the Azerbaijani government in the project is $28.3 million. Hence, the project is valued at a total of $61.7 million.
Translated by NH
Edited by CN