There was held a meeting at the Center for works with Municipalities of the Ministry of Justice to discuss the works done in 2019 in the field of assistance and methodological help in organization of municipalities’ activities, administrative control, as well as on forthcoming duties.
Opening the event, Vice-Minister of Justice Vilayat Zahirov highlighted the comprehensive development of our country under the leadership of the President Ilham Aliyev and the importance of reforms in all areas of public administration, as well as in the field of justice.
Then, the head of the Center for works with Municipalities Rahman Mammadov made a report on the activities of the Center during 2019.
It was noted that, the year 2019 marks the 20th anniversary of the formation of local self-government bodies, as well as the successful conduct of municipal elections, and the Ministry has conducted extensive awareness raising on both events.
Last year, continuous measures were taken in the area of administrative control over the activities of municipalities. Administrative control over the submitted municipal acts was realized, offers were made to the municipalities for the removal or alteration of acts contrary to the requirements of legislation, as well as claims were made to the courts on proposals not provided by municipalities. Also, illegally allotted land plots were returned to municipal property or ownership.
The protocols on administrative offences have been drawn up about officials of some municipalities and sent to the courts in accordance with the Article 549 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Azerbaijan for untimely submission of a copy of municipal acts, which should be submitted to the body realizing administrative control over the municipalities’ activity, and for obstruction in making investigations.
Materials collected on administrative investigations conducted in the course of administrative control and revealed criminal signs were submitted to the prosecutor's office for legal evaluation.
The report meeting provided information on the works carried out in the area of assistance to municipalities and their methodological support. It was noted that effective cooperation with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) was carried out in realization of awareness measures.
A "Collection of Legal Acts for the Organization of Municipal Archives" was published for the use of municipalities with the financial support of GIZ.
As well as, cooperation with national associations of municipalities, civil society institutions, the Council of Europe, the European Union and other international organizations, as well as with relevant international organizations was continued in the field of local self-government.
In addition to the works done, the issues of local self-government, as well as the reasons that caused them were touched upon, and the officials and employees of the center were listened to, and the forthcoming tasks for assisting municipalities in addressing the existing problems were identified.
Summing up the meeting, the Vice-Minister noted that Azerbaijan has become the most reforming state in the world as a result of successful socio-economic reforms under the leadership of the President of the country, implementation of sustainable measures for the development of entrepreneurship, non-oil sector and agriculture, and underlined the importance of municipalities to contribute to this development. In this regard, it was stressed the importance of increasing the effectiveness of measures undertaken to raise awareness of the municipalities, assist in the organization of their activities and prevent violations of the legislation by municipalities.
At the same time, it was noted the implementation of the assigned tasks, the special care of citizens, the unwavering compliance with ethical behavior, the prevention of corruption, and tasks were given for the greater involvement of young volunteers in the activities of the 2020 Volunteer Year.
