Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 22 / Trend , I.Khalilova /"The global financial crisis did not affect the activity of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Azerbaijan," Azay Guliyev, the head of the Presidential Administration Council for Support to NGOs.
"This is non-commercial organization, but in the whole, if the crisis will affect the economy in Azerbaijan, then it will affect the activity of NGOs, as well," Guliyev said.
However, according to him, in the case of continuing of the crisis situation, the volume of financing to NGOs from the public budget, most likely, will be reconsidered. Under the approved 2009 public budget, the Azerbaijani Government will increase financial support for NGOs almost by 70%. It is planned to allocate AZN 2.5mln from the 2009 public budget for financing of NGOs projects against AZN 1.5mln in 2008.
"At present, priority directions for financing in 2009 are being discussed, and we will conduct considerations on Dec. 23 with all representatives of NGOs and interested persons from different branches", Guliev said.
According to Guliyev, the period of conducting competition to select the NGOs projects will be specified in the first half of January. Some AZN 2mln out of the total sum of AZN2.5mln will be directed on financing of projects, and the remained funds are envisaged to spend for Secretariat and Council of NGOs.
Monitoring on taking of funds to realize projects will be completed to the end of December. Some AZN 1.2mln was directed to 190 projects of NGOs in 2008.
"The
primary results of monitoring indicate that some NGOs in reality had
professional approach to the realization of tasks assigned to them; however,
there are such NGOs, which have deficiencies because of unjustified delays that
they granted report. We see that results of monitoring did not entirely carry
out projects correctly", Guliev said.
According to the order of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, 15 priority directions of NGOs are determined within the framework of which projects in 2008 for the first time were financed due to budget funds. Among them are projects to protect human rights, democratization, social sphere, propaganda of Azerbaijan abroad, report of information about the aggression from the side of Armenia and others.
"Until now, no international organizations were inclined to finance these spheres; therefore I consider that the State support will yield positive results", Guliyev said.
In accordance with the information of the Azerbaijani Justice Ministry as for the beginning of 2008, 2,500 NGOs passed registration. However, the number of NGOs is being specified and it will likely reach 3,000.
On Dec. 22, the official exchange rate is 0.802 AZN/USD.
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