Azeri State Budget not to be amended amid hike in energy prices

Cabinet Financial Policy official Ogtay Hagverdiyev told the APA that the expenditure rise can be considered in case of revenue increase in the National Budget.

"It is premature to see whether the budget is going to be amended. The Agriculture Ministry has applied to the Government for privileges. The Government has enough funds to compensate for the price rise," he said.

He noted that subsidy to some sectors can be increased.

However, he doesn't agree with the World Bank's forecasts for 17% inflation rate in Azerbaijan in 2007.

"We don't understand what criteria the World Bank and the IMF used to find this figure. The Government's forecast is 9% for this year," he underlined.