Media Review - 03/02/2019

The media focus is on the meeting of the President of Azerbaijan with cultural and art workers, the reasons for the recent rise in prices for goods and services, etc.

The newspaper Azerbaijan in the article "The head of state has determined the priorities of national and cultural development" assesses the results of a meeting with cultural and art workers. The article refers to the continued care of the country's leadership on culture.

The newspaper Yeni Musavat in the article "Will social reforms be followed by political reforms?" gives a positive assessment by MP Fazil Mustafa of measures to strengthen social protection of the population.

He believes that these steps can be followed by reforms in the political field. In his opinion, first of all there is a need to ensure a fair trial. It is unjust decisions of the courts that turn the fate of people.

He considers it necessary to create an atmosphere of dialogue and access of opposition views to the television air.

The website Bizimyol.info in the article "There are still double standards in relation to entrepreneurship" gives an interview with a former MP, entrepreneur Nazim Beydemirli. He notes that the country's budget is still being filled at the expense of oil revenues.

Tax revenues account for 35-37% of the budget, while in Georgia it is 94-95%. Another 15% of state budget revenues come through customs.

In total, only half of budget revenues are provided through the fiscal policy, and the remaining half is transfers from the Oil Fund.

Businessmen invest their tax expenses in the cost of goods, and this leads to their appreciation. In addition, monopolists artificially inflate prices. Beydemirli considers it necessary to liquidate the State Customs Committee and introduce it into the structure of the Ministry of Taxes. -0-