A ceremony of signing of an agreement between the UNDP and the Azerbaijan Ministry of Justice on the project Formation and development of state register of Azerbaijani population was held in Baku on 3 July. The document was undersigned by the UNDP Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, Marco Borsotti, and the Azerbaijani Justice Minister, Fikret Mammadov, Trend reports.
Mammadov announced that in accordance with the decree issued by the Azerbaijani Present on 21 February the Ministry of Justice is charged in the implementation of the state program on the establishment of sate register of population. Over the past time there was formed an expert working group, relevant experience of some European countries has been studied, action plan adopted while the parliament adopted a relevant law. Baku Office of the OSCE, as well as UNDP rendered relevant assistance trough allocating $360,000 for the project, or third part of sum ($1,080m), allocated by the Azerbaijani government for the creation of the state register. Moreover, Mammadov noted that the total funds to be allocated will be insufficient for the implementation of the project, as it might require a doubled, or trice more financing. The funds in this stage will spent on the formation of a register, technical task and commencement of the development of software.
He particularly noted that the computerization of most civilian registry offices in Baku and almost the one third of the regions will contribute in the establishment of the state register. The Minister underlined that the register per citizen will be comprised of 18 indices, including the altered surnames, data on closest relatives, biometric parameters. The establishment of register will put an end to problems with compiling the voters lists, as well as simplify the public access to data, Mammadov assured.
In his turn Borsotti announced that the establishment of the register assumes special importance for ensuring transparency in the sphere of state registration of population. Borsotti voiced his satisfaction with the corporation with the Justice Ministry on this and other projects, and hope for establishment of the data preservation system for register. He expressed voiced his confidence that positive experience of other countries will be studied, efficient computer system with software will be established.
The head of Baku Office of UNDP, Mauricio Pavesi, also emphasized the importance of establishment of the effective protection system the register. This aspect is dissatisfactory in many countries where the register has been established. He voiced the OSCEs readiness to render the desired assistance in this direction. Pavesi reminded that over the past 2 years automated computerized system has been established for Baku police with the OSCEs assistance, whereas currently work over the similar system for conduct of business in the regions of the country is underway.
