Press Review - February 23, 2018

The implementation of local and international projects in the country, the situation with the institute of advocacy, and the continuation of the crisis in the banking sector are the leading topics of today's press.

The newspaper Azerbaijan writes about the parallel implementation of local and international projects in the country. One of the directions of the economic policy is the implementation of infrastructure projects. We are reminded that many years ago Heydar Aliyev initiated the restoration of the historical Silk Road.

Further, the author recalls all important international projects that have been implemented or are under implementation. In addition, over 14 years, seven airports have been built in the country, six of which are of international importance, and a new railway line has been laid from the station of Leki (Agdash) to Gabala.

In more than 500 villages, new roads have been laid, and the total length of motorways built over 14 years is 12,300 km.

The website Azadliqinfo.az writes about the situation in the Bar in the light of the decree on the development of this sphere, signed by President Ilham Aliyev. The author notes that the implementation of most of the documents remains on paper. If all the signed orders and decrees were implemented, then, in fact, Azerbaijan would become a country that does not have an analogue.

However, the reality is that with the increase in the number of orders and new structures, the situation is increasingly deteriorating, since all government activities are imitation; for real reforms there is no political will.

The author describes the situation with the Bar in the light of recent changes in this field as tragic. All independent lawyers are removed from the Bar by making falsified charges against them.

The newspaper Novoye Vremya writes about the crisis of banks and the impact of this on the economy. The Azerbaijani banking sector is not able to provide a sufficient level of lending - this follows from an analysis of the international rating agency Moody`s.

According to the results of 9 months of 2017, lending decreased by 25.9%. The decline in lending has been observed for 20 consecutive months - since March 2013.

Moody"s explains the weakness of the banking system of Azerbaijan with the fact that many banks are not sufficiently capitalized. However, the same Moody`s forecasts GDP growth of 1.5% in 2018. At the same time, the agency notes that within two years, inflation in Azerbaijan will drop to 5-6%. All this, according to the agency, can occur due to the stable rate of the manat. -0-----