GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY DISCUSS REFORMS AND PROBLEMS IN THE NOTARY PUBLIC SERVICE

Posted by: admin | Posted on: Апрель 23, 2013

Transparency Azerbaijan, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), organized a roundtable to discuss Reforms and Problems in the Notary Public Service. The roundtable was one in a series organized by Transparency Azerbaijan to facilitate dialogue between the government institutions and NGOs on increasing transparency and accountability. Representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the State Anti-Corruption Commission, the Prosecutor General’s Anti-Corruption Department, as well as local and international NGO representatives participated in the roundtable.
Participants agreed that despite Government of Azerbaijan efforts to ensure transparency and efficiency of the notary pubic offices by introduction of information tableaus and post-terminals, introduction of the institute of private notary public, adoption of Rules of Ethical Behavior for notary public, a number of challenges in this area remain. Roundtable participants identified and discussed current deficiencies in efforts to minimize opportunities for corrupt practices in the work of notary public, and proposed ways to increase transparency and accountability in this area.
After introduction from Mehman Soltanov, head of department of Notary Public, Chief Department of Registration and Notary Public, Ministry of Justice, Vidadi Mayil, leading advisor of the same department, spoke of evelopment of the Notary Public System in Azerbaijan and introduction of private notary public system. Kanan Rahmanov, Baku private notary public, discussed the problems faced by private notary public in practice. Rena Safaraliyeva, Executive Director of Transparency Azerbaijan made general recommendations to develop the notary public system and prevent violations of the law in the practice of the notary public. Participants praised the exchange of views between government and civil society that took place at the roundtable. They also decided to deliver to the Ministry written recommendations from civil society organizations on improving transparency and accountability in the area of notary public service.