Azerbaijan, Baku, July 2 / Trend M. Aliyev /
Building civil society in Azerbaijan is one of the main priorities of the country's policy, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department Head Ali Hasanov said.
He made the remarks at a 'Dialogue on strengthening civil society between NGO and government' meeting organized by the Council of State Support to NGOs under the Azerbaijani President today.
"We do not imagine Azerbaijan's economic achievements and dynamic development without political reforms, a civil society, and active participation of citizens in the internal political processes," Hasanov noted.
The non-governmental organizations (NGO) are the institutions implementing active citizens' various initiative, Hasanov said. "These are also the institutions defining the social behavior norms."
"So, as a state, Azerbaijan regards NGOs as its partners," he added. "NGOs are engaged in different spheres of political, social and cultural life, as well as make the priority of state policy."
The meeting organized today takes place in the clear and honest terms, Hasanov noted. "Azerbaijan is ready to openly and transparently discuss all issues in this area having importance for the country's public life, social sphere, as well as the issues relevant to the NGOs' activity.
"I do not consider this meeting as formal," he said. "The proposals put forward by NGOs will be taken into account and analyzed. They will outline a strategy of further relations between institutions and a civil society in a generalized form".
"The problems that worry NGOs also worry the state, the president and the government," he said.