Speaker does not have enough money for travel abroad

Azerbaijani Parliament's budget for 2017 is planned at 23 million 89 thousand 714 manats. It's  by 394,784 manats more than this year, said managing director of the Milli Majlis Firudin Hajiyev, speaking at a debate on the draft 2017 state budget. It is noteworthy that the mentioned sum (23 million manat) 74.5%  comprise  the  deputies  salary fund. Travel left on the level of 2016  - 1 million 110 thousand manats.

Taking into account the  restoration of the participation of the Azerbaijani delegation in  the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly,  the Milli Majlis asked to increase travel article by 300.000 manat. In addition, Parliament asked the government to increase the purchase cost of equipment, machinery and other costs (only 370.000.) In addition, Parliament has asked the Finance Ministry to take into account the devaluation, and increase travel costs for the 2016 year  to 140.000 manats .

Speaker Ogtay Asadov expressed his dissatisfaction with the way Firudin Hajiyev formulated the need for an increase in Parliament's budget.  “The increase by AZN 394.000 is not enough even  for paying the electricity bill," said the speaker, recalling that after last year's budget  there were two devaluations.

"Among the government agencies the highest number of business trips accounted for a share of the Parliament. I appealed to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance with a request to take into account the fact  of foreign trips,  because if the deputies  are not able to participate in international organizations, it will lag in the affairs," complained Asadov. -71D-