Press Review 08/19/2016

The export potential of the country, the state of pre-school institutions and the purchasing power of the population are the leading topics of today's press.

The official newspaper Azerbaijan published an article entitled "Azerbaijan has a great industrial potential." The author writes that Azerbaijan demonstrates economic stability amid the global geo-political risks and challenges. The author connects all the positives with the successful economic policy of President Ilham Aliyev.

According to the author, there is great potential in agriculture, with agro-parks engaged in the production of goods, packaging and logistics. The article also reports about food security.

Azadlig writes about the ongoing campaign against Azerbaijani supporters of Gulen, which is widely replicated by Russian television and is directed against the National Council and the PFPA. The article condemns such a campaign and reminds that Ali Kerimli was the first to condemn the attempted coup d'état in Turkey.

In pursuit of the opposition, the authorities want to save real Gulen supporters. In general, the campaign aims to distract the public from the upcoming referendum on constitutional changes.

The author also recalls about the activists arrested in recent days, demanding their release. The article highly appreciates international organizations for concern about the conduct of a referendum in connection with changes to the Constitution.

Echo published an article entitled "Do preschools meet modern requirements?" Only 7% of the pre-school facilities meet current requirements. This is horrifying statistics. This was stated by the head of the Children's Rights Protection League Yusif Bakirov.

According to the expert, the parents give their children to these kindergartens from despair, because there is no way to pay for the services of private agencies.

Most children do not receive normal pre-school education, which should develop children's speech and initial writing skills. But until now, the institutions cannot offer children a learning atmosphere.

At a meeting of the Milli Majlis permanent committee on science and education a working group was established for the preparation of the draft law "On pre-school education", according to which the kindergartens will be transferred to the Ministry of Education. In Baku last year only 3,000 children were recorded in pre-training courses. By 2020, it is planned that the pre-school education will cover 90% of the children.

Bizim Yol writes about the rise in prices of agricultural products and reducing the population's purchasing power.

Sellers in stores argue that some buyers buy goods in tiny amounts, as the people do not have enough money, as it was before. Sellers also say that before the end of the year, food prices will rise twice.