Washington to discuss Azerbaijan's status in OGP

Baku/29.06.17/Turan: In the evening on June 28 in Washington, the Steering Committee of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Initiative introduced Azerbaijan's status in this initiative, the OGP website reported.

In March last year, the OGP deactivated the status of Azerbaijan in this structure due to the lack of favorable conditions for civil society in the country. Then Azerbaijan was given a year to correct the situation - fulfillment of obligations.

Before the discussions began, the Board presented the OGP Criteria and Oversight Board subcommittee. They say that Azerbaijan is taking steps in a positive direction and they should be welcomed.

The Board is recommended to extend the deactivation of the status of Azerbaijan for another year.

In addition, a proposal was made to determine a specific time limit of 30-60 days for creating conditions for the activities of civil society structures.

OGP is an authoritative international initiative aimed at accountability of governments, transparency of their management. Among the founders of OGP in September 2011 - the United States and Britain.

Azerbaijan was one of the first countries that joined the initiative in 2011 at their own will. It was Azerbaijan that became the first country with respect to which the decontamination of the status was announced - it happened in March 2016 at a meeting of the Committee consisting of representatives of governments and civil society.

The Committee "regretfully" stated that "irremovable obstacles" to the activities of NGOs are being built in Azerbaijan. The Committee provided the government of Azerbaijan one year to resolve all problems. The deactivation of status deprived Azerbaijan of the right to vote, and the country can participate in OGP events only as an observer. -0-