Interview with Fuad Alasgarov, head of the Azerbaijani presidential administration's department for work with law-enforcement agencies and a member of the Commission to Combat Corruption.
How do you assess the work done to combat corruption in Azerbaijan?
Corruption is characteristic of all societies and at the same time troubles all societies. Combating corruption is one of the main tasks of all states and societies. The aim of the Azerbaijani state is to achieve economic and social development and increase the standard of living. Our country has achieved good economic and social development over the past five years. One of the factors stimulating development in society is the wide-ranging struggle against corruption. Legal and institutional reforms meeting international standards have recently been made in the country, a State Programme has been implemented and a Commission to Combat Corruption and Department to Combat Corruption under the Prosecutor General have been established.
A new National Strategy for Increasing Transparency and Combating Corruption was adopted in 2007. The National Strategy was the result of the political will of the Azerbaijani president. Within the framework of democratic legal statehood and social-economic reforms, the strategy determines comprehensive, continuing and gradual measures. The National Strategy is assessed as an effective method to combat corruption.
Azerbaijan has joined all the relevant conventions and taken an active part in global and regional initiatives, establishing close cooperation with international organizations. An Azerbaijani delegation attended the sixth Global Forum on Fighting Corruption in Doha, capital of Qatar, and the third session of the UN Convention against Corruption conference. During the forum and conference, meetings were held with the appropriate bodies of other states and international organizations, including Transparency International and the Global Organization of Parliamentarians against Corruption. Talks were held to organize joint events and strengthen cooperation between Azerbaijan and the above-mentioned organizations.
Transparency International has released the 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). What do you think about this year’s index?
First of all, I want to say that Transparency International is one of the international non-governmental organizations in the field of combating corruption. Not only this organization, but other organizations too assess and index the struggle against corruption. The assessments differ and there are even sometimes contradictions. The reports of Transparency International cannot necessarily be regarded as a source of truth. This is also the position of the organization compiling the index. Therefore, this organization’s index should be regarded as relative. As the representatives of Transparency International underline, sometimes states and mass media attach more importance to the Perceptions Index than expected. We take into consideration this document and other sources to learn how international organizations assess the work done in the country to combat corruption. I want to note that the main criterion in this list is not the state’s place, but its points. Azerbaijan’s points increased from 1.9 to 2.3 compared with last year. Azerbaijan has moved forward 16 places and has been included in the top five CIS countries.
What do you think, do 2.3 points describe the real situation in Azerbaijan?
The index was composed on the basis of reports up to two years ago. Action taken in 2008-2009 was not taken into consideration in compiling the index. Important anti-corruption measures were taken and, especially, ownership was developed and the “one stop shop” principle was introduced in most areas in recent years. As a result of the World Bank’s Doing Business research, Azerbaijan was placed amongst the best reforming countries. Azerbaijan became an exemplary country within the Transparency Initiative and received high awards from international organizations. In June 2009, President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree on strengthening measures against corruption in the management of public and municipal properties. Criminal prosecution for corruption was strengthened and concrete results were achieved. The press release from the Transparency Azerbaijan Organization underlined the positive changes in public service, pensions and the mechanism of responding to appeals, the execution of court decisions and other fields. Government agencies working with business people showed professionalism in the simplification of business procedures. Work with civil society institutions was developed and large education and information events were organized. The government showed its political will in the fight against corruption.
The index is an indication of a positive trend in the anti-corruption struggle. The country continues to move ahead in its assessments in this area. We would like international organizations to value this work more objectively and quickly. Attention should be paid to the context of the composition of the index. Transparency International doesn’t conduct opinion polls to research it. The organization collects evaluations of other institutions and composes average figures. It used seven sources related to Azerbaijan to draw up the document this year. For example, we can show evaluations by the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, Freedom House and other organizations. These organizations can be divided into economic and political institutions. Economic sources showed higher indications for Azerbaijan. You know, economic indications are based on objective figures. Political organizations are based on subjective approaches.
How do you value cooperation with international organizations in the fight against corruption?
Azerbaijan highly appreciates cooperation with all international and local organizations. This cooperation is part of transparency and the national anti-corruption strategy. Non-governmental organizations and international institutions were determined as partners in achieving the objectives described in the strategy. Close cooperation was established with Transparency International. The organization has five regional offices in Azerbaijan. Transparency International organizes ALAC (protection of interests and legal consulting) training for representatives of other countries in Azerbaijan and shows Azerbaijan as an exemplary country in this field. The Anti-Corruption Commission and Transparency International work within the NGO Cooperation and Information Network as well. The government has established open dialogue with civil society institutions via the network.