NGO Coalition Condemns Baku Decision to Leave EITI

NGO Coalition on Enhancing Transparency in Extractive Industries issued a statement on Azerbaijan's withdrawal from the EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative).

The Coalition expressed regret that after the decision of the International EITI Board to suspend the activities of Azerbaijan, the chairman of the government commission announced the country's withdrawal from the EITI.

The coalition called this decision of the government "hasty and emotional." At the same time, the decision was made against the backdrop of expanding the scope of the transparency initiative, extending it to property owners, project reports, commodity trading, and the publication of contracts.

The Coalition considers the motives of the government to withdraw from the EITI to be unreasonable.

"This decision is dictated more by the desire of the authorities to evade responsibility and not fulfill the obligations to implement the Plan of Corrective Measures," the statement said.

The decision of the government commission was to be taken after consultation with all interested parties. The statement was made contrary to the will of civil society.

The coalition believes that the policy of isolating Azerbaijan from international initiatives is a blow to the country's economic, political and democratic development and calls on the government to reconsider its decision on the EITI, the authors of the appeal note.

Recall that the International EITI Board at its meeting on March 8-9 in Bogotá suspended participation of Azerbaijan in this structure due to Baku's refusal to comply with the standards of the initiative, as well as the lack of conditions for the activities of civil society, and repression against independent NGOs participating in the EITI. -06D--