Role of Local Self-Government Bodies in Development of Civil Society Discussed in Baku

The seminar “Role of Local Self-Government Bodies in Development of Civil Society and Rule of Law” organized by the IIMDD IPA CIS Baku office took place in Baku.

The event brought together the members of the Milli Mejlis of the Azerbaijan Republic Arif Rahimzade, Tahir Rzayev, Azer Badamov, Kamran Bayramov, Rustam Khalilov, Parvin Karimzade, Deputy Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council, Plenipotentiary Representative of the Milli Mejlis of the Azerbaijan Republic at the IPA CIS Aidyn Jafarov, Acting Director of the IIMDD IPA CIS Ekaterina Goloulina and her Deputy Sergey Karavayev, Deputy Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking Countries Nauryz Aidarov, President of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum Rauf Zeyni, representatives of the Ministry of Justice of the Azerbaijan Republic, the Central Election Commission of the Azerbaijan Republic, the Municipalities and Political Parties Outreach Center, the NGOs, the media, as well as public figures, scientists and experts.

Director of the IIMDD IPA CIS Baku office Elman Imamaliyev opened the meeting and noted the high relevance of the topic and the increased role of municipalities as the driving force in the modern society.

IIMDD IPA CIS Acting Director Ekaterina Goloulina reported on the experience of the CIS Member Nations on enhancing the quality of life through holding local elections and referenda. The report was based on the outcomes of the roundtable on the issues of local government held at the IPA CIS last May with the participation of the MPs from all the IPA CIS Member Nations.

The seminar discussed different issues related to the activities of the local self-government bodies and their role in the development of civil society and the rule of law.