Top official: Most issues raised by NGOs fully coincide with Azerbaijani government’s policy

Azerbaijan, Baku, July 2 / Trend M.Aliyev /

Proposals made by the representatives of NGOs on most issues were constructive, and most of the raised issues fully coincide with the government's policy, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department Head Ali Hasanov told reporters on Monday.

"Proposals put forward by them at the same time comply with the desire of the government. Building civil society is the basis of Azerbaijan's policy. Along with state and government bodies NGOs must deal with individual issues of Azerbaijani society's life. NGO activity is based on civil initiatives, this activity aims to protect human rights, so we support them. Ongoing dialogue will continue. We agreed on the fact that meetings and dialogues with representatives of NGOs would continue, and that a separate meeting with the NGOs working in specific areas would be held," he said.

According to Hasanov, members of 34 NGOs spoke at a meeting held with NGOs, and more than 80 proposals were made.

"We will summarize and group these proposals, then they will be discussed with the Council of State Support to NGOs and distributed to the respective areas," he said.

Hasanov said proposals included questions about the legislative initiative, the issues related to social activities, organizational issues, issues related to grants, proposals for the evaluation of NGO activities, the regulation of relations between NGOs and the state.

"The event was attended by 100 representatives of NGOs. Very efficient talks were held, all the issues of the Azerbaijani society were touched upon. We also touched on issues of ensuring by non-governmental bodies of transparency in the society, the role of NGOs in support of domestic and foreign policy, to create opportunities by the authorities in this area, issues on the formation, registration and promotion of the activities of NGOs and others," he said.

The question about the mechanism of distribution of grants was also raised at the meeting, Hasanov added.

"There were complaints that the grants are available primarily in the light of close relations and other factors. Authorities do not participate in the distribution of grants. I asked the Council of State Support to NGOs that they have met and discussed this issue with the participation of these organizations. We will support the decision which they will come to," Hasanov said.