Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAKU6
2008-01-04 09:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
PRESIDENT ALIYEV OUTLINES PLNS FOR STATE FUNDING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKB #0006/01 0040952 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 040952Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4537 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 2552 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0795
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000006
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHU KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ALIYEV OUTLINES PLNS FOR STATE FUNDING
OF NGOS
REF: BAKU 1084
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANNE E. DERSE PER 1.4 (BD).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000006
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHU KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ALIYEV OUTLINES PLNS FOR STATE FUNDING
OF NGOS
REF: BAKU 1084
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANNE E. DERSE PER 1.4 (BD).
1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 13, President liyev issued a
decree outlining a plan to provid state funding to NGOs and
creating a Council fo State Support of NGOs. This decree
was issued as a follow-up to the President's July 27 decree
initially proposing the GOAJ's new NGO concept (reftel). The
GOAJ incorporated many of the international community's
recommendations in the new decree, along with some
recommendations by local NGOs, including local NGO
representation on the council's technical secretariat. Some
of our joint recommendations, however, were not addressed,
including an international presence on the council's
technical secretariat. While some prominent NGO leaders
remain doubtful that state support of NGOs will bolster civil
society, other commentators are more hopeful, adopting a
"wait and see" attitude. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On December 13, President Aliyev issued a decree
"endorsing the blueprint of state support for NGOs" and
creating a new Council for State Support of NGOs. The
decree's appendix outlines the structure of the Council,
which will include 11 presidentially-appointed members, eight
NGO-nominated members, and three governmental
representatives. The President designated technical
oversight authority to the Cabinet of Ministers, and
budgetary oversight authority to the Finance Ministry. The
President is given the authority to appoint the council
members for four year terms from a list of 24 NGO nominees.
The GOAJ adopted many of the international community's joint
recommendations (including the Embassy's) in this decree,
along with some recommendations from local NGOs.
3. (SBU) Among the included recommendations from the
international community are mechanisms for impartiality and
transparency, membership criteria, and prohibiting of
limitations on international donor funding to domestic NGOs,
which was among the international donors' key concerns. It
also appears to mandate competitive procurement processes as
the core mechanism for grant-letting purposes; contains
explicit conflict of interest provisions; and calls for
establishment of a website through which information on the
activities of the council would be provided to the public.
The GOAJ included the international community's
recommendation to include local NGO representation on the
council's technical secretariat; our joint recommendation to
include an international presence on the council's technical
secretariat was not addressed, however. The decree's
SIPDIS
appendix includes language prohibiting foreign national
membership in the council, although the appendix also
stipulates that the council can create and work with groups
of technical experts, which may open the door for
international NGOs to play an advisory role.
4. (C) Some prominent NGO leaders maintain reservations about
the GOAJ's intentions with state funding of NGOs, which they
first voiced after the initial July decree (reftel).
Helsinki Citizens Assembly Chair Arzu Abdullayeva said that
state financing will help only the government-affiliated
"NGOs." Bureau for Human Rights and Respect of Law Chair
Saida Gojamanly said that the fund will not help develop
civil society; that any efforts to do so will be in vain
because the government-affiliated "NGOs" will not carry out
effective projects. Gojamanly believes that the fund is
intended to decrease foreign assistance to Azerbaijan's NGOs.
5. (C) Other commentators are more hopeful that the council
will be effective. Open Society Institute Director Farda
Asadov said that the effectiveness of this new concept will
depend on its implementation. While he noted some gaps in
the decree -- particularly regarding NGO nomination of eight
of the council members -- Asadov believes that the council
has the potential to be effective. Association for Civil
Society Development Deputy Chair Vali Alibayov told the press
that the council's effectiveness will depend on its
governance. He anticipates a focus on projects that promote
Azerbaijan's image, and less funding for projects on other
topics. Chair of Parliament's Social Policy Commission Hadi
Rajabli publicly stated that the new council will help
professionalize Azerbaijan's NGOs, and will improve relations
between NGOs and the GOAJ. He doubted that the council would
behave in a discriminatory manner, rather, he envisioned a
systematic, well-organized body that will be able to
prioritize projects that address significant social problems.
6. (C) COMMENT: Overall, the plans outlined in the decree
move in the right direction, and could yield positive
results. The Presidential Apparat's willingness to engage
with the international community, and to include many of our
recommendations in the decree, is a positive step. Political
will, however, remains the heart of the issue, and only time
will reveal the GOAJ's true intentions. We will monitor the
GOAJ's implementation of this decree and report developments.
END COMMENT.
APPENDIX: UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION OF DECREE
(U) Unofficial Embassy translation of the decree below.
Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on
Establishment of the Council for State Support of NGOs
According to the decree of the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan "On confirmation of the concept of state support
of Azerbaijan's non-governmental organizations" number 2288
from July 27, 2007, I decide:
1. To establish the Council for State Support of NGOs under
the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
2. To confirm the regulations on the Council for State
Support to NGOs under the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan (per the appendix).
3. To entrust the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of
Azerbaijan:
3.1 To resolve matters related to the allotment of positions
and the technical provision for organization of the Council
for State Support of NGOs' activity under the President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan and its secretariat.
3.2 To determine the estimation of expenses and the number of
employees of the secretariat of the Council for State Support
of NGOs under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
3.3 To envisage the allocation of corresponding funds while
drafting the annual state budget in order to involve the NGOs
in the fulfillment of programs and projects of high
importance to the state and the community.
3.4 To resolve the other matters proceeding from this decree.
4. To entrust the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of
Azerbaijan:
4.1 To confirm the rules of use of these funds to be allotted
for NGOs.
5. This decree is valid from the date of signing.
Ilham ALIYEV
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku, December 13, 2007
(End text of decree.)
LU
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHU KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ALIYEV OUTLINES PLNS FOR STATE FUNDING
OF NGOS
REF: BAKU 1084
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANNE E. DERSE PER 1.4 (BD).
1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 13, President liyev issued a
decree outlining a plan to provid state funding to NGOs and
creating a Council fo State Support of NGOs. This decree
was issued as a follow-up to the President's July 27 decree
initially proposing the GOAJ's new NGO concept (reftel). The
GOAJ incorporated many of the international community's
recommendations in the new decree, along with some
recommendations by local NGOs, including local NGO
representation on the council's technical secretariat. Some
of our joint recommendations, however, were not addressed,
including an international presence on the council's
technical secretariat. While some prominent NGO leaders
remain doubtful that state support of NGOs will bolster civil
society, other commentators are more hopeful, adopting a
"wait and see" attitude. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On December 13, President Aliyev issued a decree
"endorsing the blueprint of state support for NGOs" and
creating a new Council for State Support of NGOs. The
decree's appendix outlines the structure of the Council,
which will include 11 presidentially-appointed members, eight
NGO-nominated members, and three governmental
representatives. The President designated technical
oversight authority to the Cabinet of Ministers, and
budgetary oversight authority to the Finance Ministry. The
President is given the authority to appoint the council
members for four year terms from a list of 24 NGO nominees.
The GOAJ adopted many of the international community's joint
recommendations (including the Embassy's) in this decree,
along with some recommendations from local NGOs.
3. (SBU) Among the included recommendations from the
international community are mechanisms for impartiality and
transparency, membership criteria, and prohibiting of
limitations on international donor funding to domestic NGOs,
which was among the international donors' key concerns. It
also appears to mandate competitive procurement processes as
the core mechanism for grant-letting purposes; contains
explicit conflict of interest provisions; and calls for
establishment of a website through which information on the
activities of the council would be provided to the public.
The GOAJ included the international community's
recommendation to include local NGO representation on the
council's technical secretariat; our joint recommendation to
include an international presence on the council's technical
secretariat was not addressed, however. The decree's
SIPDIS
appendix includes language prohibiting foreign national
membership in the council, although the appendix also
stipulates that the council can create and work with groups
of technical experts, which may open the door for
international NGOs to play an advisory role.
4. (C) Some prominent NGO leaders maintain reservations about
the GOAJ's intentions with state funding of NGOs, which they
first voiced after the initial July decree (reftel).
Helsinki Citizens Assembly Chair Arzu Abdullayeva said that
state financing will help only the government-affiliated
"NGOs." Bureau for Human Rights and Respect of Law Chair
Saida Gojamanly said that the fund will not help develop
civil society; that any efforts to do so will be in vain
because the government-affiliated "NGOs" will not carry out
effective projects. Gojamanly believes that the fund is
intended to decrease foreign assistance to Azerbaijan's NGOs.
5. (C) Other commentators are more hopeful that the council
will be effective. Open Society Institute Director Farda
Asadov said that the effectiveness of this new concept will
depend on its implementation. While he noted some gaps in
the decree -- particularly regarding NGO nomination of eight
of the council members -- Asadov believes that the council
has the potential to be effective. Association for Civil
Society Development Deputy Chair Vali Alibayov told the press
that the council's effectiveness will depend on its
governance. He anticipates a focus on projects that promote
Azerbaijan's image, and less funding for projects on other
topics. Chair of Parliament's Social Policy Commission Hadi
Rajabli publicly stated that the new council will help
professionalize Azerbaijan's NGOs, and will improve relations
between NGOs and the GOAJ. He doubted that the council would
behave in a discriminatory manner, rather, he envisioned a
systematic, well-organized body that will be able to
prioritize projects that address significant social problems.
6. (C) COMMENT: Overall, the plans outlined in the decree
move in the right direction, and could yield positive
results. The Presidential Apparat's willingness to engage
with the international community, and to include many of our
recommendations in the decree, is a positive step. Political
will, however, remains the heart of the issue, and only time
will reveal the GOAJ's true intentions. We will monitor the
GOAJ's implementation of this decree and report developments.
END COMMENT.
APPENDIX: UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION OF DECREE
(U) Unofficial Embassy translation of the decree below.
Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on
Establishment of the Council for State Support of NGOs
According to the decree of the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan "On confirmation of the concept of state support
of Azerbaijan's non-governmental organizations" number 2288
from July 27, 2007, I decide:
1. To establish the Council for State Support of NGOs under
the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
2. To confirm the regulations on the Council for State
Support to NGOs under the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan (per the appendix).
3. To entrust the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of
Azerbaijan:
3.1 To resolve matters related to the allotment of positions
and the technical provision for organization of the Council
for State Support of NGOs' activity under the President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan and its secretariat.
3.2 To determine the estimation of expenses and the number of
employees of the secretariat of the Council for State Support
of NGOs under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
3.3 To envisage the allocation of corresponding funds while
drafting the annual state budget in order to involve the NGOs
in the fulfillment of programs and projects of high
importance to the state and the community.
3.4 To resolve the other matters proceeding from this decree.
4. To entrust the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of
Azerbaijan:
4.1 To confirm the rules of use of these funds to be allotted
for NGOs.
5. This decree is valid from the date of signing.
Ilham ALIYEV
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku, December 13, 2007
(End text of decree.)
LU