Press Review 03/18/15

Official newspapers write about Ilham Aliyev's visit to Turkey in connection with the ceremony of laying the foundation of the pipeline TANAP, as well as he conducted meetings there.

Azadlig writes that the importation into the country increased by 44%, while exports fell by 38%, indicating the regression of the economy.

Gabala region police detained and fined at 200 manat members of the local branch of the Popular Front Party for their participation in the National Council on March 15 in Baku.

The Italian newspaper La Repubbica writes about the persecution in Azerbaijan. If competitions were held on the number of arrested human rights defenders and activists, the Aliyev regime would have won a medal, the newspaper said.

Azadlig called shameful and unreal the speech of Premier Rasizadeh in Parliament with a report on the activities of the government for 2014.

Due to changes in the Swiss franc, SOCAR has lost 50% of its customers in the country.

85% of military supplies to Azerbaijan come from Russia, said military expert Uzeir Jafarli.

By the end of the year, experts expect a second wave of devaluation of the manat.

Express

With reference to OPEC, the newspaper reports that this year's daily oil production in Azerbaijan decreased by 40 thousand barrels.

Echo writes about the horrific facts of fraud in the construction sector, explaining this with the presence of random people in this sector.

In 2014, 4,157 people first became ill with tuberculosis in Azerbaijan.

Yeni Musavat: Russia is preparing the occupation of the GUAM countries, similar to the occupation of the Crimea, warns US intelligence.

The head of Central Bank Elman Rustamov said in parliament that the depreciation of the manat is due to the fall in oil prices. If the process of falling oil continues, the future of the manat will be pessimistic.