Azerbaijan, Baku, 12 March / Trend corr. S.Ilhamgizi / NGOs elected to the Council for State Support of NGOs, who committed violations which contradict the Statute of the Council will be deprived of grants in the future, Arastun Mehtiyev, Deputy Head of the Public - Political Department at the Presidential Administration, stated to Trend on 12 March.
Under a decree by the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev from 13 December 2007, the Council for State Support of NGOs was created. Eleven members will be represented in the Council at the Presidential Administration. NGOs are divided into eight groups and three candidates will be elected from each group (in total 24 candidates). The President will appoint eight members of the Council. Three members will represent State departments. Six candidates for membership in the Council were elected.
According to Mehtiyev, the Council will be the main department, which will develop state policy in the third sector. "The Council will play a key role in establishment of partnerships and cooperation among State departments and NGOs. This department will improve the legislative basis of NGOs, and will become a department which will provide consultative, financial, technical and organizational aid to NGOs," Mehtiyev said.
The Government will render financial support to tackle realistic projects. The projects are to popularize Azerbaijan's interest in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict abroad, protection of rights of internally displaced persons in International Courts, as well as protection of rights of families, children, women and youth.
All submitted projects will be assessed during the contest. NGOs will account before public and State departments. The Finance Ministry will control financial expenditures.