Azerbaijan hosts international conference on civil society development

Sustainable development of civil society in Azerbaijan has created an opportunity for expanding NGOs' activities, Azay Guliyev, chairman of the Council of State Support to NGOs under the President, said in his speech today at an international conference in Baku on the topic "Development of civil society and state funding of NGOs: accumulated experience and opportunities" organized by the Consul.

"The state pays enough attention to the development of NGOs. Baku Declaration on development of civil society should be adopted at the conference," Guliyev said.

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov said that national traditions and the people's psychology should be taken into account in the development of civil society. He said in there is no independent NGO in the world.

"If the NGOs are funded by some donor agencies, then they are not independent. We must try to form independent NGOs in Azerbaijan," Hasanov said.

There are delays in the registration of NGOs in Azerbaijan, OSCE Baku Office head Ali Bilge Cankorel said at the event.

"The regions observe interference in the activities of some NGOs, and these issues must be solved. The independence of NGOs is one of the main issues. NGOs should not depend on the government and donors," Cankorel said.

The Conference continues its work in parallel sessions. The event will end tomorrow. It is planned to adopt a declaration on its results.


/Trend/