GOV'T DISCUSSES IMF RECOMMENDATIONS

Baku, IAA "Trend" April 7

The Azerbaijani government hosted discussions on Wednesday on the IMF concerns linked with the implementation of the recommendations, given to Azerbaijan in February after analysis of the fourth review on mechanism of financing the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) Program, Finance Minister Avaz Alakbarov told Trend.

According to Alakbarov, John Wakeman Lynn, head of the IMF mission on Azerbaijan will be invited to Baku after the detail consideration of IMF recommendations ton determine clarify all disagreement on the issue. "The key problem is linked with the Banking System Law and the presidential decree. There is no disagreement on changes in prices of oil products. Several variants were proposed, while the government will conform only one of them," Alakbarov stressed.

The minister said there were two variants in this connection - rise of prices of oil products once and its quartile consideration, as well as by-stage corrections in prices. Alakbarov noted that as member of the government he backed by-stage rise in prices. "Moreover, the term for the implementation of the recommendations, while it does not stand in agenda today," he noted.

Earlier Alakbarov said the deadline for the government to implement IMF recommendation was April 19. The Executive Board could shift consideration of the Review from May 7 to May 19 if there was delay in implementation of some recommendations," Alakbarov said.

IMF mission stated on its concerns about delay in implementing the recommendations on the fourth review of the Azerbaijan's performance under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), as well as the procedures for implementing the recently adopted Banking System Law, says a statement issued by a staff mission of IMF.