POLITICS
CABINET OF MINISTERS REPORTING IN PARLIAMENT
At the session of Milli Majlis taken place on March 16, the report of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic was heard. Chairman of Milli Majlis Murtuz Alaskarov has noted that started in the country under the direction of our national leader Heydar Aliyev, legal, economic, political and social reforms successfully continue. According to the Constitution, the government reports to parliament about its activity. Last year, the Milli Majlis having heard the first report of the Cabinet, has made corresponding decision. The Cabinet plays extremely important role in realization of the reforms directed on maintenance of all-around development of the country. For the expired period, the government has kept dynamic development existing in the national economy since 1995, has accepted effectual measures creating conditions for the further improvement of well-being of the population. The volume of the GDP and incomes of the state budget has considerably increased. The Republic of Azerbaijan turns to economically strong state. Then minister of economic development Farhad Aliyev spoke around the report of the Cabinet for 2003. He noted, that last year social and economic development of Azerbaijan proceeded on ascending. This progress began in 1996, and for last 8 years the volume of Gross Domestic Production (GDP) has increased for 90 percent, incomes of the budget - in 3,9 times, volume of the investments directed on fixed capital - in 6,5 times, the foreign trade turnover - in 3,3 times, real monetary incomes of the population - in 3 times, monthly average wages - in 6 times, deficiency of the budget has not exceeded 2 percent GDP, the annual rate of inflation has made 1-2 percent. On the listed parameters of economic development, Azerbaijan holds one of the leading places among the CIS countries. For the expired years, have been carried out successfully deep structural and institutional reforms. All these achievements testify to a true direction of economic policy in Azerbaijan. For the accounting period, rates of real growth of GDP, having made 11,2 percent, have reached 35,1 billion manat, and the share of production of goods in structure of GDP - 63 percent. Densities of public sector during formation of GDP have made 73,3 percent. Rates of growth in the private sector for 3-4 percent have exceeded the same parameter in public sector. The Minister reminded that the President of Azerbaijan has ratified the “State Program of social and economic development of regions of the Azerbaijan Republic” (2004-2008). In the said document, key parameters of social and economic development of the Republic are determined, the major tasks, such as acceleration of economic and structural reforms, development of regions, increase of the state assistance to small and medium business, construction of strategically important objects and infrastructures, improvement of business - environment, reduction of unemployment, increase of a material well-being of the population are put forward. Necessary work on realization of these tasks already began. The government of Azerbaijan will mobilize all opportunities for worthy performance of the tasks following from strategy planned by President Ilham Aliyev of social and economic development.