EIU claims Azerbaijan among authoritarian states
Azerbaijan ranked 135th among 167 countries in a
democratic development index released by a British group.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, which rated the South Caucasus republic with 3.19 out of the possible 10 points, Azerbaijan is allegedly among the 51 most authoritarian countries of the world.
Azerbaijan received 3 points on its electoral process, political culture and civil participation in politics, and 5 points on civil rights, but only 0.79 points on the government`s record.
The EIU report said, further, that the recent rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia allows Ankara to influence the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.
Also, it noted that Azerbaijan could forge closer energy cooperation with Russia in exchange for Moscow`s defending Baku`s stance on the Garabagh problem, but Azerbaijan has yet to begin a diplomatic initiative to secure Russian pledges regarding the conflict settlement.
The EIU said economic viability of the Nabucco pipeline, which seeks to deliver Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to European markets while by-passing Russia, depends not on Azerbaijan`s supplies, but on whether or not Turkmenistan will provide gas for the conduit. However, Turkmenistan does not appear inclined to do so, it said.
In its economic projections, the group said world crude prices would be some $40 a barrel this year. Therefore, the proceeds of Azerbaijan`s oil fund, which amounted to $11 billion in 2008, will rapidly decline.
The EIU also maintained that the rate of the Azerbaijani national currency, the manat, against the dollar, is likely to weaken. The country`s Central Bank is currently spending $150 million per month to prevent the manat from sliding.
It also claimed that the purchasing power of Azerbaijani citizens would decrease in 2009 and 2010. Accordingly, inflation will ease, and price increases will only reach 7 percent.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, which rated the South Caucasus republic with 3.19 out of the possible 10 points, Azerbaijan is allegedly among the 51 most authoritarian countries of the world.
Azerbaijan received 3 points on its electoral process, political culture and civil participation in politics, and 5 points on civil rights, but only 0.79 points on the government`s record.
The EIU report said, further, that the recent rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia allows Ankara to influence the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.
Also, it noted that Azerbaijan could forge closer energy cooperation with Russia in exchange for Moscow`s defending Baku`s stance on the Garabagh problem, but Azerbaijan has yet to begin a diplomatic initiative to secure Russian pledges regarding the conflict settlement.
The EIU said economic viability of the Nabucco pipeline, which seeks to deliver Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to European markets while by-passing Russia, depends not on Azerbaijan`s supplies, but on whether or not Turkmenistan will provide gas for the conduit. However, Turkmenistan does not appear inclined to do so, it said.
In its economic projections, the group said world crude prices would be some $40 a barrel this year. Therefore, the proceeds of Azerbaijan`s oil fund, which amounted to $11 billion in 2008, will rapidly decline.
The EIU also maintained that the rate of the Azerbaijani national currency, the manat, against the dollar, is likely to weaken. The country`s Central Bank is currently spending $150 million per month to prevent the manat from sliding.
It also claimed that the purchasing power of Azerbaijani citizens would decrease in 2009 and 2010. Accordingly, inflation will ease, and price increases will only reach 7 percent.
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