Tweet
HEAD OF NGO: "KEEPING SECRET THE INFORMATION ON GRANT AMOUNTING USD $ 2.4 MILLION BY USAID SHOWS SOME DARK NUANCES"
APA, Azerbaijan
July 16 2014
[ 15 July 2014 00:10 ]
The U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan has expressed its attitude on allocating
2.4 million dollars grant for the development of media in Azerbaijan.
Baku. Konul Kamilgizi - APA. Allocating USD $ 2.4 million grant by
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the development
of independent media in Azerbaijan caused a wide resonance, APA
reports.
Short period (June 30 - July 7, 2014), and the lack of transparency
about delivering the advertisement to community are emphasizing on
the report spread on media.
It is noted that even the most experienced NGOs can not write project
for such an impressive sum in a week. Another important nuance is
that the media was not informed about the grant. In other words,
the United States secretly announced a grant for the development of
media in Azerbaijan.
According to the report, USAID office a month earlier had informed
several pro-Western organizations that may win, about the grant. As
for transparency of information, had published advertisement on some
site that not socialized
Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy expressed its official attitude on
the above subject. According to the press service of the Embassy,
as in worldwide, USAID is on the side of healthy competition among
attendants and transparency in these matters.
"The reports about the secret grant of USAID for the development
of media in Azerbaijan are untrue. First, the information about
the project was published on the website www.grants.gov and it was
available to the public from May 21 to July 7, 2014"- the embassy said.
"Recently I learned that USAID has allocated 2.4 million dollars
for the development of media in Azerbaijan and especially without
advertising. Whereas the agency used to realize an extensive
advertising campaign of their projects. "
The chairman of the "Network of freedom of speech," Central Asia and
the Caucasus (CASCFEN) Azer Hasrat told APA.
According to him, such projects announced in advance, in NGOs in this
regard come numerous emails, etc.. "Now everything is done secretly,
quietly, and also late. In an announcement published on June 30 said
that treatment be accepted until July 7. During this time, no NGO can
prepare proposals. For the most powerful international media would
have more time for this, and for far less. I think this approach of
USAID talks about some dark nuances. Here or there is any kickbacks
or agency simply makes it possible for individual organizations. As
head of the NGO, as a journalist I also would like to compete for
this grant. Of course, if I was aware of at the right time, and
it would not be such a temporary time pressure. But, apparently,
USAID, which gave information almost secretly, deprived us of the
opportunity. This causes doubt. Here to recall two million dollars
cashed former director office of the National Democratic Institute
of USA (NDI) in Azerbaijan Alex Grigorevs. Have not forgotten the
debate about the purpose of these funds on the destabilization of
the situation in Azerbaijan before the elections. Apparently, today
USAID creates a condition for organizations that known by themselves -
"fifth column" in Azerbaijan. Another curious detail - USAID has not
called the applicants for such large sum. Similar reticence can be
seen in the activities of another American organization NED - National
Foundation for Democracy. On the foundation's Web site names Georgian
and Armenian organizations, whom funds are allocated are listed as
Azerbaijan but not the names of who realized. Website limited to
the project name. Given all this, you can come to two conclusions:
either these American organizations, together or separately, are
engaged in money laundering or hatching some evil plans with an eye on
parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan to be held in 2015. Otherwise,
information about the grant with such an impressive amount would not be
so secretive. So there is something clean. From this perspective, the
relevant authorities in Azerbaijan should pay close attention to what
is happening. Especially considering that "democratic developments"
in the Middle East started out by similar means".
http://en.apa.az/news/213924
APA, Azerbaijan
July 16 2014
[ 15 July 2014 00:10 ]
The U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan has expressed its attitude on allocating
2.4 million dollars grant for the development of media in Azerbaijan.
Baku. Konul Kamilgizi - APA. Allocating USD $ 2.4 million grant by
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the development
of independent media in Azerbaijan caused a wide resonance, APA
reports.
Short period (June 30 - July 7, 2014), and the lack of transparency
about delivering the advertisement to community are emphasizing on
the report spread on media.
It is noted that even the most experienced NGOs can not write project
for such an impressive sum in a week. Another important nuance is
that the media was not informed about the grant. In other words,
the United States secretly announced a grant for the development of
media in Azerbaijan.
According to the report, USAID office a month earlier had informed
several pro-Western organizations that may win, about the grant. As
for transparency of information, had published advertisement on some
site that not socialized
Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy expressed its official attitude on
the above subject. According to the press service of the Embassy,
as in worldwide, USAID is on the side of healthy competition among
attendants and transparency in these matters.
"The reports about the secret grant of USAID for the development
of media in Azerbaijan are untrue. First, the information about
the project was published on the website www.grants.gov and it was
available to the public from May 21 to July 7, 2014"- the embassy said.
"Recently I learned that USAID has allocated 2.4 million dollars
for the development of media in Azerbaijan and especially without
advertising. Whereas the agency used to realize an extensive
advertising campaign of their projects. "
The chairman of the "Network of freedom of speech," Central Asia and
the Caucasus (CASCFEN) Azer Hasrat told APA.
According to him, such projects announced in advance, in NGOs in this
regard come numerous emails, etc.. "Now everything is done secretly,
quietly, and also late. In an announcement published on June 30 said
that treatment be accepted until July 7. During this time, no NGO can
prepare proposals. For the most powerful international media would
have more time for this, and for far less. I think this approach of
USAID talks about some dark nuances. Here or there is any kickbacks
or agency simply makes it possible for individual organizations. As
head of the NGO, as a journalist I also would like to compete for
this grant. Of course, if I was aware of at the right time, and
it would not be such a temporary time pressure. But, apparently,
USAID, which gave information almost secretly, deprived us of the
opportunity. This causes doubt. Here to recall two million dollars
cashed former director office of the National Democratic Institute
of USA (NDI) in Azerbaijan Alex Grigorevs. Have not forgotten the
debate about the purpose of these funds on the destabilization of
the situation in Azerbaijan before the elections. Apparently, today
USAID creates a condition for organizations that known by themselves -
"fifth column" in Azerbaijan. Another curious detail - USAID has not
called the applicants for such large sum. Similar reticence can be
seen in the activities of another American organization NED - National
Foundation for Democracy. On the foundation's Web site names Georgian
and Armenian organizations, whom funds are allocated are listed as
Azerbaijan but not the names of who realized. Website limited to
the project name. Given all this, you can come to two conclusions:
either these American organizations, together or separately, are
engaged in money laundering or hatching some evil plans with an eye on
parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan to be held in 2015. Otherwise,
information about the grant with such an impressive amount would not be
so secretive. So there is something clean. From this perspective, the
relevant authorities in Azerbaijan should pay close attention to what
is happening. Especially considering that "democratic developments"
in the Middle East started out by similar means".
http://en.apa.az/news/213924