A videoconference ‘The Progress Perspectives of Local Self-Government in Azerbaijan: the Current Situation and the Tasks Ahead’ co-organised by the Milli Majlis Committee for Regional Affairs and the National Associations of Urban, Settlement and Rural Municipalities of Azerbaijan took place on 28 April.

The members of the parliamentary Committee for Regional Affairs, representatives of the Ministry of Justice Municipality Administration Centre and the Collegial Committee of Municipality Employees, the leaders and delegates of the National Associations of Urban, Settlement and Rural Municipalities of Azerbaijan as well as the chairs of 55 urban, settlement and rural municipalities took part in the event.

Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee for Regional Affairs Siyavush Novruzov spoke at the opening of the videoconference. He covered the establishment of the local self-government institute complete with the corresponding legal framework at the instance of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the path of progress covered by the municipalities and the liberation of our lands after almost thirty years of occupation in the 44-day Second Garabagh War thanks to the resolute and far-sighted internal and external policy of the victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the might of our adamant Army and the national-spiritual unanimity of our people. The period of restoring those territories has begun already – one in which important tasks befall the municipalities as well, according to Mr Novruzov.

Whilst talking about the difficulties that the municipalities encounter, Mr Novruzov told of the forthcoming measures aimed at solving the existing problems. The role of the municipalities in the successful on-going socio-economic development of the country must be enhanced considerably, in his opinion.

Chairman of the National Association of Urban Municipalities of Azerbaijan and of the Narimanov District Municipality Tamraz Taghiyev, Head of the Municipality Administration Centre of the Ministry of Justice Rahman Mammadov and Chairman of the National Association of Settlement Municipalities of Azerbaijan and of the M A Rasulzade Municipality of the Binagadi District Humbat Huseynov advised the assembled of the preparation of suggestions regarding streamlining the local self-government and the corresponding legislation as well as of the current pilot projects and collection of the local taxes. Besides, they shared ideas about using budgetary funds efficiently and about the areas into which the municipalities’ activities must be expanded.

Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee for Agrarian Policy Tahir Rzayev and a member of the Committee for Regional Affairs Kamran Bayramov referred to such subjects as animating the municipality activities, the road of development covered by the local self-government institute, the process of improving the legislative foundation for ensuring progress in this area, the implementation of reforms and the importance of strengthening the interaction between municipalities and citizens. They also put forth a number of suggestions.

The attending municipality chairs voiced their own considerations about the municipality institute.

The MPs Elshan Musayev, Sattar Mehbaliyev, Javid Osmanov and Sabina Khasayeva took part in the videoconference as well.

The Press and Public Relations
Department The Milli Majlis