Azerbaijan is not included "Challenge of the millennium" program not meeting the requirements

One of these standards is the "Challenge of the country" standard. This was informed by the co-chairman of the Azerbaijan-USA Working Group of Economic Collaboration Tomas Adams in the press-conference devoted to the results of the group's meeting.

According to his words, such principles as protection of economic rights of the citizens, holding democratic elections, removing corruption, conforming to the supremacy of the law and etc. aren't carried out. T.Adams said that all of these were reflected in the reports of the World Bank and "Freedom House" organization and also noted that joining of the Azerbaijan to this program depended on the measures lead by the country administration and this process could take several years.

Along with it T.Adams also stated that the country was approaching to the required indicators for its investment conditions criteria and the economic liberty of the country. The Minister of Finance Avaz Alakbarov said that increasing of the state budget and the general interior production from year to year also affected not entering Azerbaijan to this program. He also stated that all of these were under the surveillance of the president Ilham Aliyev and as a result of measures to be held Azerbaijan could join this program within the next years.

We should note that the "Challenge of the millennium" program implemented by the Bush administration convey the object to help the developing countries. For countries trying to enter this program there are 16 criteria defined (the economic reforms carried out in the country, forming the democratic society, improving the well-being of people and etc.)

/APA/