Validator group that holds validation of transparency initiative in EITI Azerbaijan- representative of Coffey International Company Tim Ruffer, Trond Kubbeurd expert on oil-gas industry of IPAN Company and director of “Balance Audit” company functioned in Azerbaijan Ali Nabiyev, had held a meeting at the office of Coalition of Public Unions on Improving Transparency Initiative in Extractive Industry on 13th January 2009. The purpose of the meeting was learning opinion of the Coalition on execution process of International Transparency Initiative in Azerbaijan.  

While the meeting guests learned the opinion of the Coalition on the process in Azerbaijan. Coalition member Z. Ismayil notified his opinion on 18 validation indicators: he gave comprehensive information to the Validator about: not creating constantly functioned multistakeholder working group for execution of EITI in Azerbaijan, not having working plan, companies’ avoiding from individual accountability, and that the Government does not do everything for removing obstacles against execution of EITI in Azerbaijan. He notified that, because of these shortages multisided discussion of suggestions about improving report forms of Coalition, and removing many-counted and repeated defects on reports represented by companies was not attained. Besides of it, companies do not give a report on social assignations and physical person’s paying off to the government on income tax. Although, there was considered to represent reports on all payments. Later Z. Ismayil talked about basing companies’ reports to international auditor opinion, he stressed that Coalition’s opinion related to this matter is negative: “Most of report given companies, mainly local companies do not pass international audit. The biggest company SOCAR did not have such audit till present. They base this with not happening transformation to international accountant standards. And this process is delaying for many years.”

Council member Oktay Gulaliyev objected to showing three sided Understanding Memorandum as Working Plan by Government Commission, and drawn guests’ attention to the 12^th item of that document: “There was mentioned on this item that, Memorandum does not create any obligations for parties. Although a Working Plan must be a document creating definite obligations for parties.” He stressed that, “constant multi-stakeholder working group also was not created in Azerbaijan. Parties are gathered only in discovering audit opinion events, and this meeting is in formal character. Persons who are sent by companies to those events, in most cases say that, they have no authority for signifying opinion to raised questions. While Memorandum was signing there was a promise by Government Commission that, they will return to improving report forms in future, but it did not happen yet. None of any suggestions of Coalition about these issues was admitted.” S. Rahmanov signified that, as constant multi-stakeholder working group was not created; Coalition is forced to meet with all companies separately for the purpose of discussion of one issue. There were stressed while discussion that companies are not inclined to cooperation with Coalition, and particularly SOCAR does not answer the inquiries sent by Coalition.

Validator asked  which inquiry sent to the SOCAR was not responded, and Dunya Sakit answered that, the inquiry sent in August 2008 related to “Century’s Contract” the quantity of oil in share of Azerbaijan, was not answered yet. “It is shown in value expression on the report. Coalition experts have serious suspicions that the quantity of oil in government’s share is not appropriate to the volume shown on the contract. Although we try to elucidate this issues, but as SOCAR that buy and sell the oil does not answer to our inquiry we can not attain this clearness. Council member also notified that, she share an opinion of her colleagues about not being –multi-stakeholder working group and working plan.

Council member Ilham Huseynli notified that he share view of his colleagues and stressed that considering Coalition’s suggestions is important for implementation EITI in Azerbaijan.

There was also mentioned at the discussion that, the work on writing report in understandable language is not sufficient.

◄ 1 ... 23 24 25 ... 35 ► ☼ A ₪

Last correction date of the file: 26/12/2009 - 14:59:28