Parliament debates key issues
By Aynur Karimova
The Azerbaijani parliament has today held its plenary session, where discussed key issues ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for November 1.
The MPs adopted important decisions and made amendments to several other legislations as well.
One particular amendment was made to the Law "On Diplomatic Service," which states that the government will tighten measures against diplomats who admit to shortcomings at work.
In particular, the ranks of diplomats may be downgraded or revoked for gross violations in fulfilling their official duties and for behavior not suitable for the diplomatic service.
Also, according to the amendments to the "Consular Statute of Azerbaijan," the authority of Azerbaijani consuls in foreign countries has been expanded.
The amendments give the Azerbaijani Consul abroad a right to issue passports to citizens of the country, to receive documents for the issuance of personal identity cards for Azerbaijani citizens under the age of 15, to send these documents to the relevant bodies of executive power, and in turn to provide the applicant his/her identity card once received by the Consulate.
The Parliament also adopted a partnership agreement between the Azerbaijani government and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to establish an FAO office for cooperation and coordination and technical assistance in Azerbaijan, and an agreement on partnership program between the country and the organization.
Mortgage
Speaking at the plenary session on September 30, MP Musa Guliyev has offered to introduce special provisions on providing mortgage loans to teachers and doctors.
He said that the salaries of teachers and doctors in Azerbaijan do not allow them to take advantage of social mortgages.
In this regard, Guliyev proposed to make amendments to the relevant legislation.
"Teachers and doctors should be included in the category of persons who receive social mortgage," he said.
In Azerbaijan, the maximum amount for mortgage loans provided via the Azerbaijan Mortgage Fund is 50,000 manats with a rate of eight percent and maturity term of 25 years. The “social mortgage loan,” however, is issued in the amount of 50,000 manats with an annual rate of four percent and for a term of 30 years.
A 15-percent down payment is required to receive this type of loan, compared to the 20 percent for a conventional loan.
The social mortgage loan is allocated in Azerbaijan’s national currency, the manat, and the beneficiaries should be Azerbaijani citizens.
Mortgages are only given for apartments or private housing and the amount should not exceed 80 percent of the market value of the property. The monthly payment for a loan must not exceed 70 percent of the monthly income of the borrower, who should also produce a copy of his/her life insurance agreement.
The family members of martyrs, families of National Heroes of Azerbaijan, internally displaced persons, civil servants with work experience of no less than three years, Ph.D. holders, persons who have achieved special merits in sports, as well as those who have a minimum of three years military service can enjoy these preferential rates.
Operation of deaf and dumb children possible
Musa Guliyev also initiated an idea to oversee operations aiding children, who are deaf and dumb by birth, using the state funds.
According to him, if the children with this problem are not operated on before they reach the age of three, these children will remain hearing-impaired for life.
"Each year 130-150 deaf and dumb children are born in the country, but this problem is being resolved through the use of new technologies. Such operations are carried out successfully in Azerbaijan," he noted.
The MP also added that such operations cost 15,000-20,000 manats.
"By allocating 2-2.5 million manats annually, this problem can be resolved completely. I believe that the allocation of these funds will not be too difficult for the government. Therefore, I propose to amend the legislation in connection with this matter," Guliyev stressed.
MP Ganira Pashayeva also supported this idea, saying that the state pays benefits to these children until they reach 18 years of age.
"But if these children are operated on after the legislation is amended, it will be beneficial to the state," she noted.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
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