AZERBAIJAN: PUBLIC REACTION TO RECENT PRICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 000089 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2017 TAGS: ECON AMGT EAID EFIN ETRD EPET ENRG AFIN AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: PUBLIC REACTION TO RECENT PRICE INCREASES MUTED DESPITE GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE TO WIN THE PUBLIC RELATIONS BATTLE REF: BAKU 39 Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANNE E. DERSE PER REASONS 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The social and economic effects of the recent surprise increases for fuel prices and utilities tariffs (ref) continue to resonate throughout Azerbaijan. Despite calls for public protests by opposition political parties and local newspapers, there have been no organized demonstrations (due in part because the GOAJ has denied several parties' requests for demonstrations). Anecdotal information gleaned from conversations with Azerbaijani citizens hints that while most people are very unhappy with the recent price increases and the topic is a subject of daily conversation and grumbling, most are resigned that nothing can be done. Azerbaijanis are also speculating why this major decision was taken while President Aliyev was out of the country on holiday. The real brunt of the utility price increases, however, has yet to hit local residents. As the local utilities start to bill customers for electricity, water and sewage consumption, the attitudes of Azerbaijanis could shift. The price increase has long been a pending IMF and IFI policy prescription. The GOAJ, however, has failed to implement several key policy initiatives, including improving institutional governance to ensure the additional revenue is not lost or wasted and preparing the macroeconomic environment for increased inflationary pressure, before realizing the decision. Azerbaijan political and economic circles are abuzz with speculation about the price increases. Some observers believe that President Aliyev was not informed of the decision to raise prices and will revoke some of the increases upon his return to Baku. Energy Minister Natiq Aliyev had this fall told the Ambassador the President had decided to take steps on subsidies, however. A key consequence of the price increase will be the effect on people living on a fixed income and others living below the poverty line. END SUMMARY. OVERALL REACTION MUTED -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Two weeks after price increases for gasoline, diesel, natural gas, electricity, water, and sewage surprised Azerbaijani citizens, the overall reaction has been muted (REFTEL). Despite numerous calls for public protests by �A;opposition politicians, there have been no organized demonstrations to protest the price increases. (The GOAJ turned down Umid party's request for a January 13 rally and has not yet ruled on applications from ANIP and Musavat for rallies on January 20 and 26, respectively. Following the violent break-up of a sanctioned opposition rally in November 2005, no opposition parties have tried to hold unauthorized protests.) One youth activist, who attempted to organize an on-line protest, was briefly detained and access to his website, www.susmayaq.biz, remains blocked (septel). ¶3. (SBU) While the local press continues to denounce the price increases (with some articles calling the day it was implemented "Black Monday"),the general public appears to have sullenly accepted the price increase, focused more on coping with its impact. Days after the price increase, local merchants, stores, and taxis had already raised prices on a wide variety of goods. The fuel and utility price increase may have acted as the trigger for other economic actors to increase their prices. ¶4. (SBU) Anecdotal information gleaned from conversations with Azerbaijani citizens hints that while most people are very unhappy with the recent price increases and the topic is a subject of daily conversation, most are resigned that nothing can be done. In local newspapers, most people interviewed complained that Azerbaijanis are already living under difficult conditions and that the price increases have exacerbated living conditions. Turan News Agency estimated that the price increases will result in an additional USD 70-80 in monthly expenses for the average Azerbaijani family, a significant burden in a country where average monthly incomes hover around USD 100. The real brunt of the utility price increases, however, has yet not hit local residents. As the local utilities start to bill customers for electricity, water and sewage consumption, the attitudes of Azerbaijanis could shift drastically. Anecdotal information also indicates that Baku traffic has not decreased due to the gasoline and diesel price increases. POOR MARKS FOR GOAJ ROLLOUT OF INCREASES -------------- BAKU 00000089 002 OF 003 ¶5. (C) The announcement of the price increases occurred while President Ilham Aliyev was out of the country on vacation and official business, leading many to speculate about whether the President was aware of the planned increase. Energy Minister Natiq Aliyev had this fall told the Ambassador the President had decided to take steps on subsidies, however. One international economic observer opined that the State Tariff Council probably deliberated the price increase decision in complete secret in order to avoid leaks, thus setting the stage for a surprise announcement and the subsequent negative public reaction. The various government officials who have publicly discussed the increases have added to the general public's overall confusion regarding the reasons behind the decision. Minister of Economic Development Babayev, who is also the Tariff Council chairman, held a press conference shortly after the increase and also failed to quell criticism over the decision. In a January 17 interview, Babayev argued that prices were higher everywhere in the world, and Azerbaijanis should not be surprised by the price increases here. A Ministry of Finance contact separately said that "people do not like prices increases but will adjust." LONG-TERM EFFECTS -------------- ¶6. (C) There are several different theories regarding the timing of the price increases. This year there are no major political events (i.e., elections) unlike in 2006, with re-run parliamentary elections and 2008, with presidential elections. The local IMF resident representative said that he believed the price increase was tied to Azerbaijan's unsuccessful natural gas negotiations with Gazprom and Russia. He said that government authorities, after determining that it would not have enough natural gas for the entire winter, decided to curb demand and consumption of gas and electricity by increasing prices. The increase in water and sewage rates, he believed, was included in the overall price increase as a secondary priority. ¶7. (C) The price increase has long been a pending IMF and IFI policy prescription in order to allow the government to achieve recovery costs and use the additional revenues for social development programs. The IMF Res Rep noted, however, that the GOAJ failed to implement several other key policy initiatives, including improving institutional governance to ensure the additional revenue is not lost or wasted and preparing the macroeconomic environment for increased inflationary pressure, before realizing the decision. Without taking the necessary steps before increasing prices, the GOAJ has risked damaging the economy or losing the fiscal benefits from higher tariffs. ¶8. (C) The IMF also believes that the large public expenditures and loose fiscal policy implemented by the GOAJ in 2006 are now beginning to hit the economy, also adding to the inflationary pressures. The IMF representative added that the government's decision to raise prices has acted as a "trigger" for other economic actors to raise prices. The economy is moving along at full steam and the government has increased the amount of money available to the markets. The IMF estimates that 2007 inflation will approach 20 percent. The National Bank continues to play an active role on the foreign exchange market, restraining the appreciation of the manat but enabling inflation to push higher. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) While some observers speculate that President Aliyev was not informed of the decision to raise prices and will revoke some of the increases upon his return to Baku, we find that theory highly unlikely. Minister Babayev is one of the President's closest confidants and would probably not risk his position and take a decision without close consultation with the President. Speculation regarding the possibility of the President significantly "reversing" the Tariff Council's decision would also appear to be unlikely. Despite dropping the ball on the public relations front, the GOAJ is probably expecting the whole price increase issue to diminish over time and the memory of the increase fades. ¶10. (C) The price increase is likely to have a serious effect on people living on fixed incomes and others living below the poverty line. The GOAJ likely is aware of this problem and may attempt to implement economic and social measures to BAKU 00000089 003 OF 003 alleviate the harm on these two vulnerable populations. With revenue from the BTC pipeline flowing and the State Oil Fund growing, senior GOAJ officials have said they are keenly aware of people's rising expectations. Yet the GOAJ's initial handling of the price increase indicates it may not have the same understanding of the need to respond to and manage these expectations. It also remains to be seen how the poor handling of this pocketbook issue may change Azerbaijanis' generally positive perceptions of their President. DERSE