Azeri budget transparency low

The International Budget Project (IBP), through its think-tank, the Open Budget Index Initiative, evaluates the quantity of information provided to citizens in seven key budget documents that all governments make public during the course of the year. Azerbaijan was rated 45th among 59 countries, along with other countries that provided minimal information to the public.

An IBP official Azer Mehdiyev said the assessment helps to identify and advocate for increased access to information and the adoption of accountable budgetary practices. It aims to provide citizens, legislators and civil society advocates with the comprehensive and practical information needed to track down a government's commitment to budget transparency and accountability.

"The index is a compilation of answers to 122 questions included in the Open Budget Questionnaire. In its preparation, guidelines of the International Monetary Fund and the UN's International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) were used," Mehdiyev said.

The index is the first assessment to rate countries on how open their budget books are to their citizens.

The study said that more than 90 percent of the countries covered fall short of providing accurate, timely and comprehensive information during each stage of the budget cycle, which is essential to ensure the accountability of government to its citizens.

Six out of the 59 provide extensive budget information in their budget documents. The six include South Africa.

The next study, which will cover 80 countries, will be published in the last quarter of 2008. AssA-Irada

/BakuTODAY/