Press Review 02/24/2016

The main topic of the non-governmental press is the Milli Majlis adopted state budget, as well as the dollar shortage.

Official newspapers emphasize the official visit of Ilham Aliyev to Iran.

Azadlig leads comments by Nemat Aliyev, an expert on the approval of the state budget by the Milli Majlis. Overall, in the new version of the budget only the price of oil is different. As for the sources of the budget, they are far from reality.

The expert also believes doubtful increase in transfers from the Oil Fund to the state budget.

Echo reports that the country will lose about 216 million dollars because of the non-working days and public holidays in 2016. These losses, according to expert estimates, are about 6% of GDP. The citizens of Azerbaijan with a five-day working week will have 123 days off and holidays this year.

Yeni Musavat leads criticism from an MP from the ruling party Siyavush Novruzov against the ministers. He considers erroneous that the ministers responsible for the economic bloc did not take part in the budget debate. The six deputy prime ministers did not participate in the discussion either. Criticism by Novruzov was supported by the MM Speaker Ogtay Asadov.

Bizim Yol writes about the lack of manats. With reference to experts it argues that the National Bank, creating a deficit of AZN, is trying thus to reduce the dollar rate.

The expert Natig Jafarli believes that this administrative measure cannot be long and sustainable. The last time the Oil Fund put up for auction 200 million dollars, of which 177 million was sold. This clearly demonstrates that the demand for dollars is not decreased. –0--