Struggle with the corruption remains to be the major commitment of the Azerbaijani government not only before the Council of Europe, but also the nation, MP Gultakin Hajiyeva, the Azerbaijani parliamentary representative to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), stated to a spring session of the PACE. He was speaking on the project on poverty and fighting corruption in CE countries, a correspondent of Trend, who was dispatched to Strasbourg to highlight the PACE spring session reports.
2 or 3 days ago the poverty ratio in Azerbaijan was 49% and undoubtedly, it was too high. However, it is necessary to understand the reasons for such high ratio: first, the construction of economic relationships upon the collapse of former USSR, second, the occupation of part of the Azerbaijani territory by Armenia, Hajiyeva noted.
Every 16% of the Azerbaijani pubic budget is spent on the social needs of refugees and internally displaced people (IDP), the number of which exceeds 1 million.
Corruption and poverty are interrelated organically. The two aspects are peculiar to under-developed countries, though they can be observed in the developed societies, MP stressed.
Nevertheless, Hajiyeva with satisfaction noted that over the last 2-3 years the level of poverty in Azerbaijan reduced to 29% owing to successful economic reforms. Azerbaijan has the highest Gross National Product (GNP) worldwide, which comprises 21% per capita, she underlined.
We all want to live in safe world, the Azerbaijani PM concluded.