Ilham Aliyev: Armenia should be sanctioned

President Ilham Aliyev held a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on the results of socioeconomic development in the first quarter of 2014 .

Aliyev noted , in the first quarter of 2014 , the economy grew by 2.5% and the share of non-oil sector in GDP increased.

According to Aliyev, the population's deposits in banks increased by more than 20%, and the average monthly salary grew by 7%.

Increased foreign exchange reserves , which reached $ 53 billion .

At the same time , Azerbaijan's foreign debt amounts to 8 % of GDP.

Concerning the issues of foreign policy, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan in the first quarter of the year further strengthened its position in the world.

" Our foreign policy is open , critical, and based on international law and justice ," he said.

As for the Karabakh conflict, Aliyev urged to impose sanctions against Armenia, which occupied Azerbaijani lands and conducted ethnic cleansing.

Next Aliyev noted the ongoing military construction and said that the army is strengthened and equipped with modern weapons .

Speeches at the meeting were also made ??by the Minister of Taxes Fazil Mammadov, the Minister of Energy Natig Aliyev, and the Minister of Education Mikail Jabbarov.

In his concluding speech Aliyev said that in the near future a new order will be issued on the further deepening of reforms in agriculture.

Aliyev also touched on the recent increase in the facts of felling of trees. He condemned it and demanded an end to the destruction of green space. -06B-