The most discussed topic of the last week was the amount of funds allocated by EU to the 70 civil society projects in Azerbaijan last 10 years.
The European Union (EU) financed 70 civil society projects worth 19 million euros since 2007, said Malena Mard, the head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan.
Mard announced about this while addressing a conference titled “Conformity of Azerbaijan's legislation and practice on NGOs to European standards” in Baku.
However translation mistake (19 million euros translated as 90 million euros) led to misunderstanding both in the local media and as well as in social networks.
This, in turn, caused formation of unpleasant rumors about NGOs which are regarded as pillars of civil society.
Note that after this controversy the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan made a statement that there happened translation mistake and this is not 90 million euros but 19 million euros.
"Eurasia Diary" asked the prominent representatives of civil society in the country regarding this urgent issue.
"In the last 10 years the European Union allocated for civil society in Azerbaijan 19 million euros not 90 million, this is translation mistake”, said President of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) Umud Mirzayev.
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According to his words, his organization had not been on the list of organizations receiving funds from the European Union for the last 10 years."The total amount of funds allocated by the European Union for Azerbaijan for 2007-2015 was 179 million euros. This fund covers mainly the budget support in partnership with state organizations, twinning (harmonization to European Union standards and legislation), regional and rural development, justice and education reforms, development of metrology system, Marine Administration, the Ombudsman, statistical data processing and other fields. Since 2015, the funds allocated were spent for the programming, digitalization of state institutions and implementation of methodologies according to European standards".
U. Mirzayev believes that the funds allocated to civil society organizations were spent to many fields, including women's development projects in the region, human rights protection, increase the capacity of local municipalities, socio-economic development projects, ecotourism, children's rights and prevention of violence against children evasion of education and improvement of water supply in rural areas.
IEPF President said that, unfortunately, today a number of media representatives, social activists and some people speak unpleasant expressions on NGOs."We should never forget that NGOs play an invaluable role in the formation and development of civil society. Today NGOs have important role in delivery the voice of Azerbaijan to the world community, civic initiatives and publicizing human rights, civil society and the establishment of joint activity of state bodies and non-governmental organizations and the organization of public control. "
Chairman of "Ümid" Support to Social Development Public Union, Israil Isgandarov also commented on the topic to "Eurasia Diary".
We, as "Ümid" Support to Social Development Public Union, have never worked with non-transparent donors and will never work as well. Although we implemented sufficient capacity projects with the biggest donors in Azerbaijan, now we have no any project.
Surely transparency and clear rules of the game are so important issues and today it is good case to discuss this issue, but to me, this can lead to a spot on the Civil Society in Azerbaijan.
I. Isgandarov said that it is not a true approach to evaluate all the institutions as corrupt, treacherous organization.
"Our activities are mainly focused on the needs of rural communities in the regions, our employees have been selected from regions, and we also informed the authorities about our activities and projects. More than 20 citizens of Azerbaijan worked on this project, thousands of villagers have benefited from the projects" -added I.Isgandarov.
The head of the Constitutional Studies Fund Alimammad Nuriyev talked to "Eurasia Diary" on this issue.
He said after gaining independence the European Union has taken significant steps towards the establishment of a high level of relations with Azerbaijan.
A.Nuriyev said that the procedures of the European Union are very difficult, but at the same time very clear.
“I should note that the European Union strictly monitor on these projects as donor organization. A number of non-governmental organizations in Azerbaijan are very professional. They are not only well known domestically but also are known outside the country. International donors should prefer local NGOs during their choices.”
A. Nuriyev said that there are numerous influential organizations in Azerbaijan such as International Eurasia Press Fund, having the General Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC),"Ümid" Support to Social Development Public Union ,Eurasia Development Fund and so on .They all represent Azerbaijan in the world and implement numerous successful projects in Azerbaijan.
By Taleh Guliyev
