An IMF extended mission headed by Vitaly Kramarenko, the Deputy Director of IMF Department Middle East and Middle Asia, is expected to visit Baku from 14 February to 28 February. Basel Zavoyko, the Head of IMF Baku Office, informed Trend today that the main aim of the forthcoming visit is to review Article 4 of Agreement On IMF.
However, one of the major topics of the forthcoming discussion will be the decision to increase public utilities tariffs as well as energy carriers, which was made by the Tariff Council of the Country. According to Mr. Zavoyko, the mission will discuss all issues due to the impact of the above-mentioned increase.
Furthermore, the IMF mission is likely to discuss a further program on the co-operation with the Azerbaijan Government. It is true that sustaining the country with IMF credits is out of the agenda, since Azerbaijan has had a strong paying balance, Mr. Zavoyko stated.
Meanwhile, IMF is viewing another alternative preventative programme Stand-by. However, it is considered too early for submission to the Government. We have not launched negotiations with the Azerbaijan Government within the above-mentioned programme, and I think that it is too early to do so as the Government is still coping with the new stage of the financial situation, said the Head of the IMF Representative Office.
The Government has refused receiving credits simultaneously with reviews, and at present, co-operation with IMF is building within consultations that might also fulfill on the basis of programmes.