A mission led by Vitaliy Kramarenko, the head of mission of the IMF Department on Middle East and Central Asia, launched on 14 April 2006, a government source told Trend. The first meeting was held at the Ministry of Finances.
The first discussions focused on macroeconomic situation in the country, implementation of budget projections for 2006 and preparation for the formation of forecasts for 2007. The IMF mission also interested in the governments plans on increase of forecasts for 2004, where still exists indefiniteness, as Avez Alekperov, the Azerbaijan Finances Minister, considers. However, by the end of the year it will be resolved whether to reconsider the budget, leave it unchanged.
Kramarenko proposed to continue further cooperation with Azerbaijan on the base of Article 4 of an agreement on IMF and inform the public on the result of the review. The next mission of IMF targeting researches and discussions with the government will be held early September, Kramarenko added.
The mission will last in Azerbaijan through 18 April. Along with the government officials they are also planned to hold meetings at the Azerbaijani banks Azerigasbank, the International Bank of Azerbaijan and Bank of Baku.
The experts visited BP company on 13 April.