“There is a strong political will in the struggle against corruption in Azerbaijan and the reforms in this sphere will be continued systematically”
Fuad Aleskerov, Head of the Department for Work with Law-Enforcement Bodies of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has commented on the Corruption Perceptions Index 2011 released by the Transparency International. APA presents Fuad Aleskerov’s interview.
-The Transparency International has released Corruption Perceptions Index 2011. What do you think about this index?

-The measurement of the level of corruption is discussed constantly. International organizations, academic institutions have not formed a unique methodology in this field yet. Various organizations prepare indexes using different methodologies. The Transparency International, as one of the international nongovernmental organizations on combating corruption, also uses peculiar methodologies. Consequently, there is some contradiction in the reports released by various organizations. Therefore, the attitude towards this assessment is not unambiguous. The Transparency International itself also brings into question this index. Discussions are being held to change this methodology and even to abandon it. The Transparency International does not conduct studies to prepare the index and is based on the general index of the reports from various sources. The organization refers more to the considerations, perceptions and views than the real situation in the countries. It is strange that while preparing the index the Transparency International refers to other organizations, and these organizations also refer to the Transparency International in their reports. Eventually one and the same information is endlessly repeated within the certain circle.

The sources used in the preparation of the index with regard to Azerbaijan can be divided into two groups: economic and political organizations. Azerbaijan’s rate is high in the sources covering economic sphere. Their indicators are based on objective figures. The assessments by the political organizations do not exclude subjectivity and favoritism with regard to some states. With regard to this the indicators of the countries sometimes do not reflect reality. Moreover, the information used in the index regarding Azerbaijan covers the period from December 2009 till September 2010 and it does not contain all the information covering that period. The national chapter of the Transparency International also admits it. Head of the Baku office of the Transparency International notes that this index can not be regarded as sufficient to fully assess all the work done by the country, since considerations always fall behind the changes in the real life. Therefore, the global approach is that the reports of the Transparency International must be regarded as relative, not as the source of absolute truth.

-What can you say about this year’s index regarding Azerbaijan?

-In the index released by the Transparency International Azerbaijan has 2.4 scores as in the previous year. The main indicator in the Corruption Perceptions Index is the scores of the countries. Azerbaijan’s position has remained unchanged compared to the previous year. Unlike previous year, new states have been included into the index this year and consequently Azerbaijan’s place has changed. Therefore, according to the index, Azerbaijan’s score is stable, lagging is out of the question. But some media outlets have speculated about this and given false color to these indicators.

-Do you think that 2.4 scores reflect the reality concerning our country?

-Unambiguously not. Irrespective of these reports, anti-corruption measures are being taken in our country. Since 2004 systematic legal and institutional reforms have been carried out in this sphere and complex measures have been taken. Early in 2011 with the view of ensuring sustainable development, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev declared strengthening of the struggle against corruption the priority of the state policy.
Since the beginning of the year, within the framework of the new socio-economic development strategy, a number of important legislative and practical measures have been taken with the view of struggling against corruption and ensuring transparency in the activity of the government agencies. The procedures in the government agencies have been simplified, modern management methods applied, the mechanisms of one stop shop principle, electronic services and non-cash payment improved. Along with preventive measures for combating corruption, significant work has been done to improve the quality of the criminal prosecution. There is close cooperation and effective dialogue with the civil society institutions. Positive influence of the abovementioned measures is already being felt. International practice, the opinions and recommendations of the specialized international organizations are taken into consideration while taking these measures. We always have delicate approach to the views about our country, because for those who prepare these reports such indexes are simply figures and indicators, for us this is real life, the work we have done. Therefore, we feel regret when the views about the development of our country are not objective. I want to underline once more that struggle against corruption and transparency are the priorities of the state policy, our development. There is a strong political will in the struggle against corruption in Azerbaijan and the reforms in this sphere will be continued systematically.