Azerbaijan, Baku, 25 January /corr. Trend A.Badalova / The Coalition on Extractive Industry Transparency Initiatives (EITI) sent proposals to the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) regarding amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between these organizations to raise accountability of the State organizations and companies, said the Head of Center for Economic Studies, Gubad Ibadoglu, on 25 January.
"The proposals envisage improving the system of accountability," he said.
The key activity priorities of the Coalition in 2008 are to increase the transparency and accountability of the State organizations and oil and gas companies, hold monitoring of the projects financed by the SOFAZ and assess their efficiency, expand co-operation with other organizations, as well as regional and international co-operation.
According to Ibadoglu, the EITI should be spread not only in oil and gas sphere, but also other spheres of mineral resources production. In addition, the EITI is being presented in a generalized form (except BP) and it also dissatisfies the Coalition.
The Coalition on Extractive Industry Transparency Initiatives in Azerbaijan was established in 2004 from 32 members. Currently the number of the Coalition members makes up 121, with 108 NGOs and 13 physical persons.
The goals of the Coalition are to carry out works to improve accountability in State organization and companies. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Government for this purpose, where the Coalition acts as a third side. In addition, the memorandum was signed by oil and gas 25 companies.