Media Review for March 9

Securing Azerbaijan's interests in the Karabakh issue, the situation in connection with the pandemic, COVID-19, the situation in the car market are topics of today's media.

The website Yenisabah.az discusses the situation in Karabakh with the deputy Vahid Ahmedov. According to him, at present Azerbaijan has one very important task - the recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan by Armenia. Until this issue is resolved, it is impossible to build any economic relations with Armenia, the MP says. It is necessary to strengthen the military cooperation of Azerbaijan with Turkey and Pakistan. The deepening of this cooperation is the guarantor of Azerbaijan's independence.

According to the expert on security issues Ilham Ismayil, despite the success gained in the Second Karabakh war, the victory cannot be fully called a victory.

Particular tension is created by the fact that the Armenian armed forces have not been withdrawn from Karabakh, the Azerbaijanis have not been returned to Karabakh, the internal roads of the region are not safe and are not fully used. The expert called the inability of the Azerbaijani side to control the Lachin corridor the most dangerous.

The website Müsavat.com discusses the situation with the pandemic with experts. So, the number of infected in the country is growing. Some experts believe that with such an increase, tightening quarantine rules will be inevitable. While the epidemiological situation in the country does not cause much concern, however, an increase in the number of infected is observed. In this regard, a phased tightening of quarantine is quite possible. Experts also note that so far there are no facts of a new strain of coronavirus in the country.

The Sfera.az website discusses the situation on the passenger car market - in particular, the implementation of projects to update the country's vehicle fleet. These projects include lowering customs duties on new vehicles or importing alternative vehicles. We are talking about a ban on the import of vehicles, more than five years, exemption from tax on new cars.

Otherwise, the cost of old-production cars will jump, since people's purchasing power has decreased and it is in the range of 18-20 thousand manats.

To import cars of average quality aged 5 years and younger, at least 30 thousand manats are required. The production period for about 80% of passenger cars on the domestic market is more than 10 years. In 2014, this figure was 62%, over six years their share increased by 18%. If this continues, then in 2025 the share of cars over 10 years old will reach 90%.