Press Review 01/08/13

Official and pro-government press announce the decision to allocate AZN 3 million for the development of Tartar region, and for instruction about the CEC for the political parties and blocs participating in the elections.

The same newspaper today published more than 20 articles, criticizing the National Council and its leaders.

Azadlig

The paper considers the possibility of appointing Ziya Mammadov as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of transportation and relations with Russia.

Under arrest, the leader of REAL Ilgar Mamedov appealed to the European Commission calling for sanctions against 25 employees of law enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan.

Deputy Interior Minister Oruj Zalov said that all illegal protests would be stopped. Experts regard the announcement as the sanctioning of violence against the authorities, which is expected in the lead up to the election.

Zerkalo 

Iranian media reported that 50% of the water from the Araz River may be directed to the restoration of Lake Urmia.

The National Council meetings and discussions in Tbilisi are regarded by one columnist as an indication that Rustam Ibrahimbekov will not participate in upcoming elections and that another candidate may be nominated. 

Express

The Ministry of Agriculture proposed the closure of all markets and the creation of large supermarkets.

Echo: Since 2010, Azerbaijani citizens have been increasingly traveling abroad. They spend 400 million manats per year on international travel.

Novoye Vremya: In the lead up to Azerbaijan elections, the U.S. embassy makes ambiguous statements, indicating that the White House advocates democracy in a fake way, is the opinion of one columnist.

Bizim Yol

A columnist says the National Council meeting in Tbilisi was inconclusive and regards it as a crisis of the National Council.

Yeni Musavat

The newspaper said that the meeting of the National Council in Tbilisi showed that Rustam Ibrahimbekov lost the chance to become a presidential candidate.