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2. Contractor Control Plan reflected in Ecological and Social Management System
(ESMS) manual was missed.
3. According to ESIA, the audit program includes the Contractor’s self provision
(ЕISA. Section 6.4.4.), but this activity was not realized
4. The Strategic Plan on Cultural Heritage Protection along with Gobustan State
Historical Artistic Reservation has not been developed yet.
5. As a result of wrong planning the part of the reservation area was separated into
two parts and one of the separated parts was left uncontrolled after the pipeline
was built.
6. SCP commitments # 208 (158) and 210 (160) on Cultural heritage protection
plan were not implemented adequately.
7. The commitment of “The importance and decisions on archeological findings will
be made by Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan Republic together with IoAE.” was
not met. The Ministry of Culture was not involved in this activity.
8. Computerized catalog of archeological findings was not prepared.
Taking into consideration above mentioned non-conformities and negative cases group
members have some recommendations:
Recommendations:
1. The Contractor didn’t fully cover information on archaeology in the training
course. We recommend Contractor to take this fact into consideration in the
future activity;
2. Contractor Control Plan reflected in Ecological and Social Management System
manual was missed. It is important to pay more attention to this issue in the
future;
3. Cultural Heritage Protection is very sensitive field. Therefore, self-provision is
very necessary. Contractor has to discuss this issue and take into consideration
in its activities;
4. It is recommended to accelerate preparation of the Strategic Plan for Protection
of Cultural Heritage along with The Gobustan State Historical Artistic
Reservation;
5. Immediate measures must be taken to have a control over reservation area,
which was left uncontrolled as a separation of the reservation area into 2 parts;
6. The better archeological control over in future activities must be ensured;
7. The ties with Ministry of Culture must be restored immediately. Legal
documentation of them must be ensured. BP, BTC, SCP together with Ministry of
Culture of Azerbaijan Republic and IoAE must establish work group to protect
archeological monuments;
8. It is recommended to accelerate preparation of computerized catalogue of
archeological findings.
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Conclusions:
1. As a result of this project Archaeology science of Azerbaijan obtained the
largest ever volume of archeological findings and materials in its history. This
materials will be their research object during many years. The archeological
findings collection of the Institute was doubled;
2. Some archeological monuments of local and world importance was discovered
during researches;
3. Azerbaijani specialists got acquainted with modern technologies and latest
theoretical information. They had exchanged their experience with one of the
biggest research centers of the world;
4. The employees of IoAE had been professional, and effective. Along with this,
involvement of paleontologists in research group lead to conduct researches in
larger intervals. Because, the territory of Azerbaijan is very rich with
paleofaunastic (Binegedi fauna, Pirekeshil fauna, Eldar fauna) and paleobotanic
(Dashkesen Goshgarchay Jura flora) pieces of III and IV geological period;
5. During its activity BTC/SCP excluding some parts did not create any ties with
Ministry of Culture. The Ministry was not involved in these tasks, was not
informed about archeological findings;
6. Some contradictious thoughts were formulated in society as a result of weak
participation of mass media and lack of NGO participation;
7. Company implemented its commitments on cultural heritage protection. It
regarded historical monuments with great respect and care. The activity of the
Company in the field of cultural heritage protection was satisfactory.
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I
.
Introduction
1.1 . Objectives of the project
The main objectives of the project are protection of cultural heritage of Azerbaijan,
management and sustainable utilization of archeological, cultural and historical
monuments that are on or close to the route of the BTC\SCP in Azerbaijan. In other
words main objective of the project is to evaluate implementation of commitments taken
by company to protect and manage Cultural Heritage and appropriate requirements
regulating this field. Evaluation was conducted in the following directions:
1. Audit performance of SCP requirements of Cultural Heritage Management Plan;
2. Audit performance of SCP in meeting commitments;
3. Audit of contractor (CCIC) and National Partners (the ANAS IAE and the Ministry
of Culture) performance in meeting SCP requirements and commitments;
4. Audit of procedure of finding, cataloging, presentation and report to public
communication of archaeology findings.
1.2 Scope, key issues and feasibility of the project
Scope of the project. Taking into consideration the world-wide importance of
Gobustan State Historical Artistical Reservation and that the active constructions in the
area of Azerbaijan were finished, by ending the forth paragraph the scope of the work
was planned in the following way:
• Observation of Gobustan State Historical Artistical Reservation area;
• Observation of The Georanboy and Shamkir Historical and Country Studies
museums
The key issues of the Audit. Issues in the area of Gobustan State Historical Artistical
Reservation
were
evaluation
of
implementation
of
commitments
by
the
Company related to the Reservation, conformity of these commitments to national and
international legislations and requirements.
Issues in The Historical and Country Studies museums were protection of monuments,
handing-receiving and registration, commitments of the Company and National Partner
in joint activity, evaluation of conformity of Company’s and National Partner’s activity to
national and international legislations.
Feasibility of the project. The following factors made the audit performance possible:
• Training sessions held with the advice of an international advisor;
• Identifying responsible people inside the group according to the audit directions;
• Each team member being informed about their functions;
• The existence of resources in order to carry out the audit as it was planned;
• Everyone having a clear notion of his/her duties according to the requirements
and commitments before going to sight visits;
• The financial support of OSI-AF;
• Recommendations made by the members of AMG (Advisory and Mentory
Group), the local and international mentor.