Gubad Ibadoglu attended to global conference held in Sydney

Extractive Industries companies will submit individual reports

On May 23, the 6th Global Conference on Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) was started and about 1200 representatives of 96 countries, leading international organizations, transnational corporations are participating at this event. Azerbaijan delegation is represented by government, extractive industries, audit companies and civil societies.

One day before conference, the Board of EITI approved new rules during pre-conference meeting. On the same day, “Publish What You Pay” made presentation for representatives of civil society with initiation of international NGO Coalition. During the meeting, the newly elected members to EITI Board were also presented. Gubad Ibadoglu, elected member to the Board from Eurasia region has talked about his platform as well. He mentioned that as a full member of EITI International Board he will focus mainly on two issues – human rights and communication.
On May 23, the global conference on “EITI: behind transparency” was inaugurated officially. The chairman of EITI International Board Clare Short delivered opening remarks and later the President of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma, Prime Minister of Solomon islands Gordon Darcy Lilo, Prime Minister of Togo Artem Cvesi Selegoci, chairman of Economic Cooperation and Development Eric Solxeim delivered speeches. Afterwards, the discussions continued with participation of members of International Board of EITI. The member of EITI Board, chairman of Revenue Watch Institute (USA) highlighted the significance of respect to human rights, transparency and accountability. He also drew attention the conference participants the issues related to civil society in Azerbaijan. He noted that the rights of free association, expression of thoughts are violated and the activities of civil society are restricted. The representatives of civil society member to “Publish What You Pay” international NGO Coalition shouted slogans and showcased posters against Chevron, BP, Exxon Mobil and Shell companies and invited them to be transparent.
On May 24, Gubad Ibadoglu participated as a one of spokesman at the conference. The session dedicated to what extent EITI is able to stimulate the public debates was moderated by the vice president of World Bank Meg Taylor. Along with Gubad Ibadoglu, the finance minister of Cameroon Osumane Mey Alamine, Filipin presidential advisor Elisea Gozun, the director of Tranter Resource Company of Zambia and the representative of Open Society Foundation Diarmid O’ Sullivan responded to the questions of conference.


Gubad Ibadoglu talked about EITI implementation and situation related to management of it and drew attention of conference participants the challenges faced by civil society in regard to public debates in Azerbaijan. He underlined that one of the reasons of downfall the effectiveness of public debates is decrease the interest of people, including no direct relation between EITI implementation and improvement the living conditions of people, restrictions of activities of civil society, lack of channels that distribute the information and other related reasons. G.Ibadoglu also stated that despite of the existence of specific law on information accession, several organizations impose certain obstacles on accession of such information. The most appealing and debatable factor on his speech was related to new rules adopted in Azerbaijan, especially those that limit the activities of independent civil society organizations.

He mentioned that all these mentioned factors decreases the value of EITI implementation process and it also weakens the human progress indicators over this initiative. G.Ibadoglu emphasized that a new stage has begun on EITI implementation and new obligations are set before governments, extractive industries companies and civil society since the adoption of new rules. Thus, according to new rules approved by EITI Board, extractive industries companies should submit individual reports and it will serve increasing the opportunities on information accession.


ERC Public Relations Department