Azerbaijan may excluded from the EITI

Azerbaijan can be excluded from the Initiative Extractive Industries Transparency (EITI). This issue will be discussed at a meeting of the international board of this structure on 14-15 October in the capital of Myanmar.

According to the member of the international EITI Board, Gubad Ibadoglu, the meeting will discuss the situation in Azerbaijan.

"At the last meeting of the International Board, it was decided to send a special mission to Azerbaijan. Evaluation report of the mission will be presented at the meeting in Yangon. The report suggests three options: the exclusion of Azerbaijan from the structure, the temporary suspension of membership, sendfing  assessment mission to the country," said Ibadoglu.

"Azerbaijan has committed itself. Recently, however, the situation has changed, the participation of civil society at the initiative of  transparency is limited. This concerns the international board," said Ibadoglu.

However, he noted that the coalition of Azerbaijani NGOs to improve transparency in the extractive industries opposes excluding Azerbaijan  from the EITI.

"We will make a statement on the matter. We believe that Azerbaijan should remain in the EITI. Just the government should create an enabling environment for civil society participation in the EITI," said Ibadoglu.

* EITI was proclaimed in September 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Yohanessburge.

EITI is based on 12 principles that requires local and foreign mining companies to publish paid funds, and the governments of these countries - the funding received.

June 17, 2003 the current president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the first EITI conference in London announced Azerbaijan's decision to join this structure and to support international efforts to improve  transparency. -03B06-