POLITICS
FIRST PUBLIC INFORMATION SEMINAR HELD WITHIN AZPAC PROJECT IN BAKU
The first public information seminar was held on February 21 within the framework of the project of “Support to the anti-corruption strategy of Azerbaijan” (AZPAC) realized by the Council of Europe (EU), Azerbaijani Government and US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The event, aimed at increasing public information on Azerbaijani Government’s commitments to fight corruption, briefed on “National Strategy on increasing transparency and fighting corruption”, as well as spoke about work to be done in the future.
It was informed that Azerbaijani Government has done substantial work in fighting corruption recently. So, the country ratified Criminal and Civil Law Conventions on Corruption of the Council of Europe in 2004 and joined the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) in June of the same year. Azerbaijan also joined United Nations Convention against Corruption. As a continuation of the work done in fighting corruption, National Strategy on Increasing Transparency and Combating Corruption and the Action Plan for the implementation of the National Strategy for 2007-2011 was approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 28, 2007.
Speaking about AZPAC and its action plan, an EU official notified the two-year National Strategy aims at preventing corruption and promoting democracy and the rule of law.
Within the Project, seminars are to be held in Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan.
The event, attended by some state bodies, members of the Commission on Struggle against Corruption of Azerbaijan, representatives of international organizations, as well as Non-governmental organizations discussed the role of mass media and non-governmental organizations in implementation of the Project.