Antimonopoly functionaries of CIS countries gathered in the country of monopolies

 Baku on Thursday opened a two-day meeting of the Interstate Council for Antimonopoly Policy of CIS countries.

     The representatives of the antimonopoly authorities of CIS countries are discussing mainly the decisions of the previous 35th meeting.

    The head of the Anti-Monopoly Service of Azerbaijan Zahid Isayev, who received a medal a few days ago for merits in public service, gave a presentation on the development of competition policy in Azerbaijan.

     In a press release of the Ministry of Economic Development it is not specified what is the policy. However, it is no secret that Azerbaijan over the past five years could not accept the Competition Code. The register of natural and market monopolies has not been made public.

     Independent experts say that virtually all areas of the country's economy are concentrated in the hands of monopolists, most of which operate under the "roof" of senior officials.

     However, the State Service for antitrust and consumer protection hardly notices the monopolists.

     The Public Service only twice fined Azerbaijan Coca-Cola Bottlers for the violation of the principles of competition.

     Small traders in Baku and the regions of the country say they are "fed up" with illegal actions of the service's employees, who extort money under various pretexts. - 08B-