Azernews.Az

The Azerbaijani government considers non-governmental organizations to be "a real partner of the state" in the process of building civil society in the country, a senior official has said.
Ali Hasanov, the head of the socio-political department of the President`s Office, said the financial aid being provided to NGOs shows that the government remains committed to their ideas and principles.
"President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated that socio-economic development should proceed equally with democratic development in Azerbaijan. Therefore, as the country develops, a part of the financial wealth which results from socio-economic development is channeled into NGOs contributing to the strengthening of civil society."
Hasanov was speaking to reporters after the presentation of the winners of a contest on financial assistance to NGOs, conducted in 2008 by the State Council on Support to Non-Governmental Organizations under the President.
He said an acceptable course has been chosen for Azerbaijan by studying the experience of Russia and Kazakhstan, the overall principles of operation of local NGOs and the activity of international donor groups. Thus, at a time when other countries are banning foreign aid in their NGO support concepts, Azerbaijan has outlined the role of the state in the process by promoting such assistance. As a result, US aid agencies, the OSCE, the International Monetary Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other groups, are implementing grant programs in Azerbaijan.
"The government cannot stay out of the process, as NGOs are civil institutions representing Azerbaijani citizens," Hasanov said.
He said grant programs chiefly aim to promote NGOs` direct involvement in building civil society and ensure that they have sufficient financial resources to pursue these activities. Assistance to NGOs target directing the efforts of active civil society participants to solutions of the country`s outstanding problems.
Further, Hasanov made it clear that there were no discriminatory practices in funding NGOs and such aid is allotted regardless of a given group`s political convictions or ambitions. He said that even the NGOs that once came out against Azerbaijani statehood have benefited from grants.
He emphasized that these organizations are dealing with human rights issues and other activities, representing Azerbaijani citizens. "From this standpoint, assistance should be provided to all NGOs that won the contest and their efforts rewarded, without differentiating."
191 out of the 361 projects submitted to the Council were announced as winners. 1.2 million manats ($1.48 million) have been allocated to implement these projects, which cover activities in 15 fields.
Hasanov noted that Azerbaijan`s NGO movement unfolded at a controversial and challenging period in the country. He recalled that, after the Soviet collapse in 1991, not only NGOs, but all civil society institutions, were involved in politics. According to him, NGOs should stay out of politics and treat the authorities as their partner. NGOs will receive financial aid from the state only on tthe condition that this requirement is met, he said.
According to Hasanov, local NGOs have undergone three stages of development in the country.
"Initially, the state and NGOs viewed each other as rivals, then they approached one another with suspicion. Finally, the state and NGOs are now acting as partners."