According to the official division, the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan includes the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, 64 districts, 79 cities, 263 settlements, and 4244 villages.
The country is divided into 685 municipalities, and 14 economic regions have been established: Baku, Absheron-Khizi, Guba-Khachmaz, Mountain Shirvan, Shaki-Zagatala, Ganja-Dashkasan, Gazakh-Tovuz, Central Aran, Shirvan-Salyan, Lankaran-Astara, Mil-Mugan, Karabakh, Eastern Zangazur, Nakhchivan.
Is it possible and necessary to divide the territory of Azerbaijan into provinces (mahal, region, clan, district, circle) and transition to such management?
Speaking to Medianews.az on the topic, Tahir Rzayev, member of the Milli Majlis Regional Issues Committee, emphasized that carrying out reforms in management is very important and also a responsible task: “Because proper organization of management is important for the development of the country's economy, ensuring people's comfort, and timely and operative implementation of the assigned tasks. In this regard, under the President's instructions, many important reforms have been implemented in management in recent years, fundamental measures have been taken in raising personnel potential, increasing demands, treating assigned work with care, and providing exemplary service to the population. The establishment of special representatives in the territories liberated from occupation and their direct, periodic reporting to the President serves the efficient implementation of works. This has proven itself. Magnificent construction, development, and improvement works are already underway in the territories liberated from occupation. Special representatives play an important role in carrying out these duties and are able to organize their work at the level required by the day.”
Undoubtedly, reforms should continue further. Because this is not only the requirement of the time but also a method characterizing the country's development and creating broad opportunities for it.”
T. Rzayev stated that the administration of regions in the form of provinces, mahal, region, district, or another form belongs to the prerogatives of the country's leader: “So far, certain considerations have been voiced on this matter. If the head of state takes an initiative in this direction, the establishment of regional management bodies can be implemented in the future. Currently, economic development has been ensured in the country. The implementation of four state programs aimed at the socio-economic development of regions, efficient activity of executive structures, and joint work of other bodies have yielded positive results. Of course, this path should be pursued more systematically.”
Lawyer Gulamhuseyn Alibeyli told Medianews.az that the regional division in Azerbaijan was carried out during the Soviet era: “Back then, the district management system was preferred due to local government bodies being closer to the population. Nowadays, i.e., in the age of information technologies, especially with the digitalization of management, this approach has lost its significance. Therefore, I believe it is possible to switch to a larger management system – regional management. That is, it is possible to transition to the management system based on the current economic regions. During the division different names can be chosen: mahal, clan, circle, etc. Old names can also be restored. This is not very significant. The main issue is that the role of the executive authority in management should be reduced, the powers of municipalities expanded. Large municipalities should be created, and they should perform the functions of the executive authorities locally.”
At the same time, “The President should have specially authorized representatives for the regions who both oversee the activities of municipalities and resolve issues of general state importance, i.e., defense, security, and maintenance of public order. Other powers should be given to the municipalities.”
According to G. Alibeyli, a kind of transition to the Turkey model is possible: “Transition to the Turkey model in local governance in Azerbaijan is entirely possible. I believe this is even necessary. Now, in many districts, there is a presidential authorized representative, and at the same time executive bodies operate. The reality is that district-city executive bodies cannot solve any issue without a presidential authorized representative. Although the authorized representative acts as a representative of the Presidential Administration, not as a representative of the local executive body, in practice, the authorized representative carries out all the powers at the local level.”
Nailə Qasımova,
Medianews.az
Note: The article was prepared on the topic “Promotion of the socio-economic development of regions; promotion of Azerbaijani identity” with the financial support of the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in accordance with the competition conditions.
