Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend S.Ilhamgizi, I.Alizade / Azerbaijani parliamentarian Asim Mollazade suggests increasing the salaries of the employees working in the diplomatic service and opening Azerbaijan's Embassy in Israel. Mollazade highlighted his proposal at the meeting of Azerbaijan Parliament's Permanent Commission for International and Inter-Parliamentary Relations on 1 November.
The meeting focused on the draft laws included in the pack of Azerbaijan's State budget. Mollazade proposed involving professionals in the diplomatic service in Azerbaijan and for this purpose, increasing the wages in this sphere.
He considers it necessary to allocate part of the budget for acquiring properties for Azerbaijan abroad. "It would increase the profits of Azerbaijan because the real estate prices increase more rapidly than inflation," the parliamentarian said.
Mollazade suggests that Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Culture and Tourism should open a Center of Azerbaijani Culture in Paris. According to him, it will be a positive step towards propagating Azerbaijani culture in the world.
According to the parliamentarian, it is necessary to open Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel. "Absence of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel weakens Azerbaijan's position in the worldwide information war and in fighting against Armenian lobby," Mollazade said.
Attending the meeting, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Vagif Sadigov, said that the number of those willing to work at the Foreign Ministry is decreasing each year due to the low salaries in the diplomatic system.
If in 2006, some 700 people submitted documents for the vacancies at the Foreign Ministry, in 2007 their number equaled 360. A mass flow of the employees is observed to the foreign companies, where the salaries are high.
In 2007 the State budget allocated AZN 3.3mln for financing Administration of the Foreign Ministry. The Foreign Ministry suggested increasing this amount up to AZN 8.5mln. However, initiated by the Ministry of Finances, the State budget will allocate AZN 5.2mln for the Foreign Ministry in 2008.
The atteche of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry receives AZN 250, reviewers - AZN 200, I secretary - AZN 280, II secretary - AZN 260.