BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28. The third high-level meeting of heads of law enforcement agencies responsible for combating corruption in member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has been held in Baku, Trend’s correspondent reports from the event.
More than 250 people attended the event, hosted by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan, including representatives of 46 member and observer countries and eight international organizations. More than 40 high-ranking officials, including heads of independent anti-corruption agencies and ministers, were among the participants.
The meeting aimed to strengthen international and regional cooperation among OIC member states in combating corruption, expand coordinated action among law enforcement agencies and promote the exchange of best practices.
Participants discussed opportunities for joint action to identify and recover assets obtained through corruption, as well as the use of modern technologies in anti-corruption efforts.
The opening ceremony began with the national anthem of Azerbaijan, followed by readings from the Quran and a message from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to the participants.
Hamad bin Nasser Al-Misnad, representing Qatar and chairing the second ministerial meeting of heads of law enforcement agencies responsible for combating corruption in OIC member states, delivered an address, followed by Azerbaijani Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev and OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha.
In his speech, Al-Misnad stressed the importance of continued cooperation among member states and stronger joint efforts to combat corruption. He highlighted the value of such meetings for exchanging experience, discussing shared challenges and developing effective cooperation mechanisms. He also outlined the measures taken and results achieved in Qatar in combating corruption.
Following Al-Misnad’s address, Azerbaijan was unanimously elected chair of the Bureau of the third high-level meeting of heads of law enforcement agencies responsible for combating corruption in OIC member states for a two-year term. Iraq, Palestine and Burkina Faso were elected as Bureau members.
In his address, Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev highlighted the importance of combating corruption in upholding the rule of law, increasing transparency and accountability in public administration, and strengthening public trust in state institutions.
He said that reforms implemented in Azerbaijan under President Ilham Aliyev, improvements in public administration and stronger anti-corruption mechanisms were key elements of the country’s consistent state policy in this area. The prosecutor general stressed the importance of eliminating conditions conducive to corruption, expanding preventive measures and studying international best practices.
Aliyev also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational forms of corruption, highlighting the need to strengthen information exchange, mutual legal assistance and coordinated action among law enforcement agencies.
Addressing Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the OIC, Aliyev said that, under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership, the country attaches particular importance to strengthening partnerships within the organization, promoting Islamic solidarity and expanding cooperation among member states. He described the Baku meeting as an important platform for deepening dialogue among anti-corruption institutions, broadening the exchange of experience and expanding opportunities for joint action.
OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha thanked Azerbaijan for organizing the event to a high professional standard.
He highlighted the importance of developing cooperation within the organization, strengthening solidarity among member states and working together to address common challenges. He also identified the promotion of common approaches to combating corruption, the sharing of best practices and stronger institutional ties among relevant agencies as key conditions for effective cooperation.
According to the event program, the first working session included a video presentation, a review of the draft agenda and work program, and consideration of the report on the meeting of senior officials.
Ministers responsible for combating corruption in OIC member states then delivered their remarks.
In the afternoon, ministers, heads of relevant law enforcement agencies and representatives of regional and international organizations shared their views on the issues under discussion.
At the conclusion of the event, Azerbaijan joined the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Convention, and the relevant document was signed.
