European Anti-Fraud Office chief: Azerbaijani government pays big attention to combating corruption

Baku, November 21, AzerTAc Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) Giovanni Kessler has hailed what the Azerbaijani government is doing to combat corruption. “The government of Azerbaijan pays big attention to the fight against corruption,” he told the country`s Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov. Mr. Kessler is in Azerbaijan to attend the 3rd session of the Assembly of Parties of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA). He said important preventive measures were taken by the Azerbaijani government to ensure transparency in the work of public bodies. Mr. Kessler also praised the introduction of Azerbaijani Service and Assessment Network (ASAN), describing it as an “interesting model”. Mr. Garalov, who was elected the IACA chairman at the organization`s Baku session, said Azerbaijan`s hosting the event was “very remarkable”. “In his message to the participants of the session President Ilham Aliyev provided an insight into what has been done in Azerbaijan to combat corruption.” “The fact that Azerbaijan assumed the presidency of IACA is a tremendous success for us. Teamed up with anti-corruption bodies and relevant European organizations, Azerbaijan will take necessary measures to achieve success on this front,” he said.