President Aliyev: ASAN service showed it is possible to fight corruption and win

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

Establishment of ASAN service was a revolution in the area of social service and social relations.

President Ilham Aliyev made the remark as he attended on December 28 the opening of ASAN Kommunal Center No 1, established to optimize management and enhance transparency in providing services to the population in utilities.

“This itself is a massive progress and great novelty,” added the president.

ASAN Service center was created by the presidential decree in 2012. The Service which already has 11 centers across the country provides venues for state agencies to render their services in a uniformed and coordinated manner.

The service could reduce extra expenses and loss of time for many citizens, upgrade the level of professionalism, ensure a larger use of electronic services and increase transparency and strengthen the fight against corruption.

The head of state noted that the effect of ASAN service is not confined to services provided at the centers.

“In general ASAN service brought novelties into the relations between citizens and civil servants,” said President Aliyev. “It gave us even more strength in the struggle against corruption. It showed that it is possible to fight corruption and win. This is the essence and importance of ASAN service.”

Citizens approve this service and expect such centers to open in their regions, noted the president.

“We will do this gradually. In accordance with our plans, ten centers will be launched in our country, I mean in the regions, in 2018,” added President Aliyev. “This process will then move even faster.”

ASAN service is also a social project as it provides services to citizens, the president said emphasizing that so far ASAN has got 13 million appeals.

Talking about the recent innovation concerning the issue of visa to foreigners -- ASAN Visa, President Aliyev hailed the factors characterizing the new service and its advantages, adding that creating the service was in fact a necessity.

"We are trying to attract more tourists to Azerbaijan, both for getting familiarized with the country and having right information about it. At the same time this is a huge contribution to the country's economy. Both hotels and public places are working, and this means currency is coming to the country," he said.

The head of state underlined that getting a visa to visit Azerbaijan was once a huge problem.

"We could not be satisfied with the situation regarding visas. There were not only lots of irregularities, but also groundless demands were put forward. In general, to visit Azerbaijan people needed to stand in a queue for months, they should appeal to the embassies and consulates of our country in other cities and it was not yet clear whether they would be given visas or not. Therefore, "ASAN Visa" was created in order to address this issue once and for all," said the president.

President Aliyev noted that the number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan increased by about 10 percent this year.

"The number of visitors from some countries has increased by 30-40 times. In 2017, this process will go even more rapidly," he added.

Citizens of 81 countries will be able to take advantage of ASAN Visa system, which will make life for many foreigners wishing to visit Azerbaijan easier. Visas will be issued online within three days without applying to state organizations.

The only thing to do, instead of going to the diplomatic mission and talking with foreign officials, is to enter requested details onto "ASAN Visa" and pay the proper stamp duty.