WTO members support Azerbaijan’s accession under favorable terms: foreign ministry

The 7th meeting on Azerbaijan’s accession to the organization between the working group and WTO secretariat took place in Geneva on July 24.

At the meeting the head of the Azerbaijani delegation and Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev described socio-economic development of Azerbaijan and economic diversification and development of non-oil sector to the meeting participants.

Egypt (on behalf of the African Group), Turkey, Paraguay (on behalf of the landlocked countries), Brazil, China, Pakistan, Jordan supported Azerbaijan’s accession on favorable terms and praised steps by Azerbaijan in this direction.

In addition, the United States, the European Commission, Canada, Australia, South Korea voiced their support for Azerbaijan’s WTO accession, the ministry said.

The meeting also focused on updated proposal by Azerbaijan on tariffs for goods and services, as well as the activities of the Azerbaijani government over the past six months to improve national legislation to align with WTO standards.

At the meeting the WTO members agreed to submit new and follow-up questions on Azerbaijan’s foreign trade regime to the Secretariat of the WTO till September 14, 2009. The working group will hold the next regular meeting at the end of this year or in the first quarter of 2010, the ministry said.  

On July 21-22, the Azerbaijani delegation held bilateral talks with the European Commission and the United States and multi-party negotiations with the United States, Canada, Australia, the European Commission, Turkey and other countries on July 23 to discuss support for agricultural sector.

Azerbaijan is seeking entry into the WTO with the status of a developing country, which would allow the country to provide greater financial support to agricultural sector.

Azerbaijan applied for WTO membership in 1997.

/Interfax Azerbaijan/