APPEAL

by the NGO Coalition To Improve Transparency in Extractive Industries to the candidates standing in the 2005 election to the Milli Maclis of the Azerbaijani Republic

Dear candidates!

It has been two years since the Azerbaijani Republic joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (June 17, 2003). Over the two years, the Azerbaijani government, companies and NGOs have taken their first steps to develop this initiative in our country.

Thus, the NGO Coalition was established, a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Azerbaijani government, local and foreign companies and representatives of the civil society, government reports have been made public twice together with the feedback from auditing companies on the revenues obtained in extractive industries (yearly for 2003, six months’ for 2004 and yearly for 2004). These measures have been taken to ensure transparency of major revenues expected from the development of natural resources, hydrocarbon resources in particular.

It is no secret that the transparency of Azerbaijan’s oil revenues and their effective use must become a central task of the national development strategy to ensure the dynamic development of the economy, as well as the independence and well-being of our citizens. From this standpoint, considering the importance of establishing parliamentary control over the revenues being made in the light of the forthcoming parliamentary election in the Azerbaijani Republic due on November 6, 2005, we are appealing to you on behalf of the Coalition To Improve Transparency in Extractive Industries:

Dear candidates:

We would like you to keep in mind that the parliamentary election you have joined is taking place at a most crucial period in Azerbaijani history.

Programs and manifestos presented in the run-up to the election have a chance of succeeding only if they reflect most pressing and significant problems of modern times. Transparent and effective governance of the revenue windfall is one of the most pressing and significant problems today. It is important for you to express your attitude towards such problems and stress their importance in your campaigning. By doing so, you will make your own contribution to attracting public attention to the transparent and effective governance of the revenue windfall.

For our part, we, members of the NGO Coalition to Improve Transparency in Extractive Industries, are expressing our readiness for cooperation in this area with all candidates, regardless of their national, religious and political affiliation. We are stating that if they may more attention in their campaigning and manifestos to the issues of transparent and effective governance of the revenue windfall, this will meet the interests of more than 40 NGOs that are members of the said Coalition.

We would like to add that the Coalition experts are ready to help you in preparing your manifestos and other campaigning activities relating to the transparent and effective governance of the revenue windfall and provide you with all the necessary information.

We are inviting you to cooperation in the name of Azerbaijan’s future.

The Council of the NGO Coalition to Improve Transparency in Extractive Industries.

Baku, August 5, 2005.

Tel.: 497 89 67

Last correction date of the file: 24/7/2008 - 15:0:10