SOCIETY
Azerbaijani President: Important steps were taken in addressing social issues last year
Baku, January 12 (AZERTAC). “Important steps were taken in addressing social issues last year. First of all, we have completed the repayment the deposits left over from the Soviet era, more precisely, their payment to the population in the form of compensation. I can say that Azerbaijan's experience in the payment of these funds in the form of compensation is in first place in the CIS,” said President Ilham Aliyev in a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers to discuss results of the country`s socio-economic development in 2013 and outline tasks for 2014.
The President said: “We have paid this money to the population in the shortest possible time - in a matter of two years. We have paid this money to the population with the highest coefficient even though the independent state of Azerbaijan did not bear any responsibility in this issue - neither legal nor moral. But we have done that because our policy is focused on the citizens of Azerbaijan. We have allocated significant funds and have been able to resolve this issue in a short time.
Salaries and pensions were increased last year. This is also a positive development. We are well aware that some countries are cutting pensions, wages, axing jobs and costs. Meanwhile, not a single social program has been reversed in Azerbaijan. On the contrary, we have taken additional measures to improve the well-being of the people - measures of both social and investment nature. Of course, this is manifested in real life as well.”