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SOME AZERBAIJANI NGOS COOPERATED WITH ARMENIAN SPECIAL SERVICES UNDER "PEOPLE'S DIPLOMACY"
Trend, Azerbaijan
Aug 15 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 15
Trend:
The main aim of President Ilham Aliyev's policy is to turn Azerbaijan
into a strong, developed, modern and influential country, Head of
Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Public and Political Issues
Department, Ali Hasanov said.
"We believe that important success has been achieved in this direction
over the last 10 years," Hasanov said in an interview with the
Azerbaijani AzerTag news agency.
He noted that one of the tasks assigned in the past period was to
secure building of the rule-of-law state in Azerbaijan, supporting
civic initiatives and forming strong democratic society based on
political pluralism.
"To this end the aligning of the existing legislation with
international standards continued consecutively, the conditions,
which prevent the development of political parties, non-governmental
organizations and media outlets, were eliminated, and they were
provided with a comprehensive state support," the top official
stressed.
Hasanov said it is no a secret that one of major factors hindering the
civil society institutes' development was the frequent law violations
in this area, namely, the non-transparency, financial and accounting
system's incompatibility with the most basic requirements, and so on.
He added that some external and internal circles, contrary to
Azerbaijani national legislation's requirements, were using existing
voids and interfering in the activities of political parties, NGOs
and the media, financed them by illegal means and directed them
accordingly.
"As a result of this, some NGOs under the guise of "people's
diplomacy", established cooperation with local organizations controlled
by special services of aggressive Armenia, and became spokesmen for
the enemy country's interests," Hasanov stressed.
He said the saddest thing is that such NGOs and individuals, and some
journalists, relying on foreign circles funding them, placed themselves
above national law, shied away from registering their grant projects
and presenting financial statements, evaded taxes and other legal
requirements of the government.
"And the appropriate steps by government authorities are now,
unfortunately, being presented by these circles as "a pressure on
civil society", "restriction" of the NGOs' and the media's activity. A
targeted slanderous campaign is being developed against Azerbaijan,"
Hasanov underscored.
He said the statements by some Western circles, a number of
foreign organizations and media agencies about the alleged use of
"authoritarian", "dictatorial" and other similar administration
methods in Azerbaijan are unfounded and biased.
"Azerbaijan, both from legislative and practical points of view,
fully provides appropriate conditions for free activity of the civil
society institutions," Hasanov stressed.
He added that the government's main requirement is that the NGOs and
the media in Azerbaijan should not abuse of democratic freedoms,
and must ensure the rule of law in this area, like in developed
European countries.
"The laws require that the NGOs should act in accordance with their
own statutes, be deeply aware of their duties and responsibilities
before the law, exercise the function of social control in the society
in a healthy form, say "No" to those who involve them in politics,
who want to turn them into an appendage of the political parties and
a cheap tool in anti-Azerbaijani activities of some foreign circles,"
Ali Hasanov stressed.
From: A. Papazian
Trend, Azerbaijan
Aug 15 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 15
Trend:
The main aim of President Ilham Aliyev's policy is to turn Azerbaijan
into a strong, developed, modern and influential country, Head of
Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Public and Political Issues
Department, Ali Hasanov said.
"We believe that important success has been achieved in this direction
over the last 10 years," Hasanov said in an interview with the
Azerbaijani AzerTag news agency.
He noted that one of the tasks assigned in the past period was to
secure building of the rule-of-law state in Azerbaijan, supporting
civic initiatives and forming strong democratic society based on
political pluralism.
"To this end the aligning of the existing legislation with
international standards continued consecutively, the conditions,
which prevent the development of political parties, non-governmental
organizations and media outlets, were eliminated, and they were
provided with a comprehensive state support," the top official
stressed.
Hasanov said it is no a secret that one of major factors hindering the
civil society institutes' development was the frequent law violations
in this area, namely, the non-transparency, financial and accounting
system's incompatibility with the most basic requirements, and so on.
He added that some external and internal circles, contrary to
Azerbaijani national legislation's requirements, were using existing
voids and interfering in the activities of political parties, NGOs
and the media, financed them by illegal means and directed them
accordingly.
"As a result of this, some NGOs under the guise of "people's
diplomacy", established cooperation with local organizations controlled
by special services of aggressive Armenia, and became spokesmen for
the enemy country's interests," Hasanov stressed.
He said the saddest thing is that such NGOs and individuals, and some
journalists, relying on foreign circles funding them, placed themselves
above national law, shied away from registering their grant projects
and presenting financial statements, evaded taxes and other legal
requirements of the government.
"And the appropriate steps by government authorities are now,
unfortunately, being presented by these circles as "a pressure on
civil society", "restriction" of the NGOs' and the media's activity. A
targeted slanderous campaign is being developed against Azerbaijan,"
Hasanov underscored.
He said the statements by some Western circles, a number of
foreign organizations and media agencies about the alleged use of
"authoritarian", "dictatorial" and other similar administration
methods in Azerbaijan are unfounded and biased.
"Azerbaijan, both from legislative and practical points of view,
fully provides appropriate conditions for free activity of the civil
society institutions," Hasanov stressed.
He added that the government's main requirement is that the NGOs and
the media in Azerbaijan should not abuse of democratic freedoms,
and must ensure the rule of law in this area, like in developed
European countries.
"The laws require that the NGOs should act in accordance with their
own statutes, be deeply aware of their duties and responsibilities
before the law, exercise the function of social control in the society
in a healthy form, say "No" to those who involve them in politics,
who want to turn them into an appendage of the political parties and
a cheap tool in anti-Azerbaijani activities of some foreign circles,"
Ali Hasanov stressed.
From: A. Papazian