Press Review 10/10/2017

Improving the social conditions of refugees and internally displaced persons, the prospects for the development of the agrarian sector, and the half-hearted struggle against corruption are the leading topics of today's press.

The newspaper Azerbaijan assesses the state care of the social situation of refugees and internally displaced persons. The author notes that Azerbaijan, according to the number of refugees and IDPs, ranks first in the CIS and in Europe and is considered a country that has achieved high results in creating conditions for this category of people.

6.2 billion manat was spent to improve the living conditions of this category of people and solve their social problems. With the help of only one Oil Fund, 96 residential complexes have been built, and 50,000 families have been provided with new apartments. The poverty rate among this category of people has decreased from 75% to 12%. Over the past 14 years, the monthly expenditure on food has increased fourfold, and the amount of utility payments - 4.5 times.

The newspaper Echo writes about the deplorable state of the agrarian sector, which lacks investment. The agricultural sector development is hampered by the insufficiency of loans, the lack of modern technologies and the passivity of foreign investors.

Agrarians cannot obtain loans from commercial banks because of the high interest rate. To raise the agrarian sector, it is necessary to invest billions of manat in this industry. The government cannot assume all expenses. The only option is to attract investors.

To restore one hectare of land, from five to eight million manat is required. There are two main problems in Azerbaijani agriculture: a shortage of fertile land and land that has been abandoned for many years and is currently unsuitable for use.

The newspaper Novoye Vremya writes about the fight against corruption. 155 criminal cases against 215 officials were sent to courts in Azerbaijan in 2017.

There are 118 criminal cases of corruption in the industry. However, the fight against corruption is conducted half-heartedly; there are no loud anti-corruption revelations, or arrested high-ranking officials.