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Gubad Ibadoglu re-elected as a member to Steering Committee for Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

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The representatives of 25 local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Azerbaijan attended to 4th Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum annual meeting in 2012 took place in Stockholm, hosted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, on 29-30 November 2012. About 200 representatives from 30 countries joined this Forum. 
The plenary speakers were include Štefan, Füle European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Christian Strohal, Vice President of the United Nations Human Rights Council and former Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE, Birgitta Ohlsson, Minister of European Affairs, Sweden, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nalecz, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Poland, Natalia Gherman, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Moldova and Lise Bergh, Secretary General of Amnesty Sweden.
The Azerbaijan delegation joined to political, economic, ecological, social and other panel discussions. In addition, the Management Board was re-formulated for up-coming year. The chairman of Public Initiative Center, Gubad Ibadoglu elected as a national coordinator on Azerbaijan and international Management Board for Civil Society Forum during the elections held at the Forum. There are 19 new members elected for Management Board and the representation within the Forum will be as follows: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Belarus 1 representative from each country, 3 representatives from Georgia, including 4 from Ukraine and the rest 8 persons will represent international organizations member to European Union. Last year, Azerbaijan was represented for 2 persons in this Board and according to the rules the chairman of Economic and Social Development Center, Vugar Bayramov could not nominate his candidacy.
The Steering Committee of the Forum will be assembled in Brussels next year.

PR Department of National Platform of Civil Society Forum in Azerbaijan

 

Forest stripe planted in Goychay with Support of OSCE Baku Office

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Economic Research Center ( ERC) organized planting of trees within the framework of “ Natural and anthropogenic factors of soil degradation: awareness raising and public control” project funded by OSCE Baku office on December 05, 2012. The action is organized in Potu Municipality area of Goycyah region. 

The expert of ERC, Vahid Marramov informed action attendees about the importance of planting protective forest stripes and explained how and in what order the trees should be planted.

Afterwards, the experts of agriculture talked about the importance of this action. They expressed their gratitude to Economic Research center and OSCE Baku office as well. They also mentioned the significance of raising awareness among land owners and called for pursuing similar activities in the future too.

After delivery of speeches, the planting of trees were unleashed. We should note that during this action Emmanuel Huntzinger, head of Economy and Environment department of OSCE Baku Office, including the officer of this department Zahra Ahmadova, Hamid Habibov, advisor for Agrarian issues department of Goychay Executive Committee, GalibTogrul, project coordinator of ERC, and VahidMaharramov, ERC expert planted trees as well.

In addition, the citizens of Potu municipality, particularly youths, agronomists, land owners, land leasers and municipality members participated in planting of trees as well.

In this action, 120 trees were planted in order to prevent the wind erosion of municipality field.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 23 December 2012 15:36 )
 

Guba and Khachmaz municipalities discussed issues with state agencies

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Economic research Center conducted round table meeting in Baku aiming to organize public discussion of 2 years outcomes of the project implemented in 10 partner municipalities of Guba and Khachmaz regions with financial support of German International Cooperation Society on December 03, 2012. The meeting is realized at Park Inn hotel and it was also discussed the ways of eliminating socio-economic issues revealed through Citizen Report Card. There were representatives from 10 partner municipalities, including Parliament, government and NGOs as well. 
The member of ERC Management Board Gubad Ibadoglu delivered opening remarks at the meeting and informed attendees about the projects of ERC related to local self-governance. Afterwards, the head of Support to Local self-governance Program of German International Cooperation Society, Catherine Lampe and project coordinator of this program, Fidan Gasimova talked about the implemented activities within the framework of the project and its outcomes as well.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 23 December 2012 15:43 ) Read more...
 

Business-civil society relationships and collaboration perspectives were discussed

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Economic Research Center (ERC) is implementing “Enhancing the effectiveness of government by strengthening the role of think tanks in decision-making arena” project funded by European Union. The aim of the project is to provide participation of think-tanks in decision making process and strengthening the actions of government through increasing their institutional and research opportunities. 
ERC organized round table meeting dedicated to mutual cooperation between partner think-tanks and business communities on December 06, 2012. GubadIbadoglu, the member of ERC Management Board delivered opening remarks and informed attendees about activities implemented within the framework of the project. He underlined that 3 trainings – “ Strategic management of think-tanks”, “ Increasing quality control over policy papers of think-tanks” and eventually “ Strategic planning in think-tanks” were organized for 18 partner think-tanks within the framework of the project. In addition, ERC provided its methodogical support to think-tanks on establishment of strategic management and quality control institutions: “ In current stage of the project, our aim is to arrange discussion on mutual cooperation between business communities and partner think-tanks as well as to introduce businesses to partner think-tanks. Afterwards, G.Ibadoglu talked about the concept of a think-tank and important role of such think-tanks in Western Europe, the USA and developed countries ofAsia as well. Besides, he informed participants about the development of such institutions in Azerbaijan. He mentioned that there are over 5500 think-tanks functioning in 169 countries and 34 % of this figure is related to the USA: “Think-tanks have considerable impact in formulation of state policy, and decision making process as well. We wish that think-tanks in Azerbaijan could also reach to this level and involve in decision making process.” According to the information provided by G.Ibadoglu, there are 4 groups think-tanks in Azerbaijan: TTs operating within businesses, TTs operating within state agencies, TTs operating within universities and finally independent TTs. He noted that there are issues related to their institutional knowledge and skills, strategic management, including quality control and financial sustainability. G.Ibadoglu informed attendees about planned activities towards alleviation of issues related to partner think-tanks within the framework of the project.
After the presentation the discussion session declared open. Zaur Guliyev from the Ministry of Taxes, Eqshin Bayramov from Business University, Khalid Racabov from BP-Azerbaijan company, Vusala Garayeva from Azerbaijan MicroFinance Association, Sahib Cafarov from Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Azerbaijan Republic, Suheyla Cafarova from Bakcell company, AykhanNasibili from Entrepreneurship Development Foundation, Mohubbali Nagiyev from “ Balance” public union, Vusala Huseynli from Young Democratic Reformers Union, NabatGaniyeva from Women rights Protection Society named after DilaraAlieyva and others emphasized the issues between business communities and think-tanks. In addition, they talked about the ways of eliminating these problems. The participants of round table exchanged views on distrust of businesses towards civil society, lack of proposals by civil society for businesses. At the conclusion, it was underlined that for initial stage it is significant to introduce parties, business community and think-tanks each other’s.
ERC Public Relations Department

 

The shares of military expenditures in Armenia and Georgia’s budgets are higher than Azerbaijan

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November 19, 2012
The shares of military expenditures in Armenia and Georgia’s budgets are higher than Azerbaijan
The discussion on “ Caucasus 2025: A visions” was held in Geneva, Switzerland on November 16-17. The event was organized by Geneva Center for Security Policy and representatives from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Russia and Turkey, including the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland and other international organizations were among attendees. The chairman of Public Initiative Center, Gubad Ibadoglu, including head of Helsinki Civil Assembly on Azerbaijan, Arzu Abdullayeva and chairman of Public Finance Monitoring Center, Ingilab Ahmadov represented Azerbaijan in this meeting.
According to G.Ibadoglu, the only invited guests from Azerbaijan were economists, and the rest participants were politicians, experts dealing with conflictsand diplomats: “The main discussion topic was making initiatives over restoration of peace in the region and combine all efforts towards their resolution. Besides, the regional economic integration, infrastructure and energy projects were also among debated topics.

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    In his newsletter, the events ( round tables, seminars, trainings, etc), publications, press releases, including the information on business trips to abroad realized within the framework of projects by the Economic Research Center are covered in both languages 

( Azerbaijan and English).

  


Program and financial report of  Economic Research Center covering activities in 2012