<b>The delegation mission to Azerbaijan was to research the extent of NGO development, civil society and government cooperation and also to determine the level of development of NGOs in Azerbaijan and the countries within the covered areas in the partnership</b><br />
In the absence of the Chairman of IEPF, Mr. Umud Mirzayev, Nick Nwolisa the head of Programs welcomed the delegates of the Black Sea – Caspian Sea International Fund (BSCSIF) who are on a mission to Azerbaijan. The IEPF Chairman was unavoidable absent because he had to travel to Geneva for the High Level Segment meeting of United Nations organized by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Division. The members of BSCSIF delegation are: Dr. Marius Eugen Opran, the Official Representative of BSCSIF to EU Institutions, Bryan Cassidy, Chairman of the Section of the Single Market, Production and Consumption, European ECOSOC; also Amanda Paul, Policy Analyst and Programme Executive for the European Policy Center, and Felicia Scoarta, Adviser to the Secretary General BSCSIF.
In the meeting that lasted close to an hour, the heads of various IEPF program departments, Mr. Ramil Azizov, Mr. Siyab Mammadov and Mr. Rey Kerimglu briefly talked about the various activity directions of IEPF. The delegation were impressed with IEPF activities as an NGO in Azerbaijan involved in post conflict reconstruction of the war affected territories of Azerbaijan. In particularly, IEPF ability to source for fund from international donors in assisting war victims, vocational training center and cooperative farm initiative for the war victims, and IEPF micro-credit activities were well explained to the delegates.
The head of the delegation, Dr. Maurice Eugen Ogran talked about his good impression concerning government effort to support NGO and Media. He expressed desire that the government can even go a step further in order to ensure transparency in the administration of fund for the support of NGOs and media.
It should be noted that BCSCIF was established in 2009 after a joint effort initiated by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev and the President of Romania, Mr. Traian Basescu. BSCSIF has it’s headquarter in Bucharest and has presently increased its member state from 8 countries to 13 countries. The delegation mission to Azerbaijan commenced on Monday, 4th July, 2011, and according to Dr. Muarice Eugen Ogran, they have had opportunity to visit various government offices, meet with ministers of ministries, and also with civil society organizations. Based on the recommendation of the NGO Support Fund, the delegation was at the IEPF office in order to get the perspective of a very active NGO in Azerbaijan.
IEPF Information Department