Voices of South Azerbaijan: Member of Parliament: Revenue from Azerbaijan's Mines Spent in Other Regions

Member of Parliament: Revenue from Azerbaijan's Mines Spent in Other Regions

By Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, December 28, 2021

Hussein Hatami, Member of Parliament

Hussein Hatami, the Member of Parliament representing the cities of Kaleybar and Khodaafarin in the East Azerbaijan province, has posed a question to Iran's Minister of Economy and Finance regarding certain economic reforms.

According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, the MP stated during a speech in Iran’s Parliament on Sunday that “incompetent and unrelated individuals are being appointed to positions in the country’s economic structure.” He added, “It seems the ministry lacks a defined program for addressing the disorganized structure of the stock market and the unchecked devaluation of the rial.”

Hussein Hatami also questioned the minister about how the revenues from mines in South Azerbaijan are being spent, pointing out that the local population does not benefit from this income.

"The Sungun Copper Mine damages the Kaleybar forests and the region's environment. Why is not even a single rial from the revenue of this mine allocated to this region?" he asked.

"Why are five sports clubs in a central province supported and benefiting from this mine’s revenue, but Azerbaijan’s sports receive no support? If we remain silent on this matter, what answer will we give on Judgment Day?" the MP added.

Link to the original news in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Millət vəkili: İran Azərbaycanı mədənlərinin gəliri başqa bölgələrdə xərclənir

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