AzerNews, Azerbaijan
July 14 2005

WTO admission ‘may boost economic reforms’

Admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) may give an incentive
to economic reforms in Azerbaijan.

This will lead to passing new laws, amending a number of existing
ones and other activities, said Mahmud Mammadguliyev, Deputy Foreign
Minister and head of the taskforce on Azerbaijan’s admission to WTO.
He told journalists on Thursday that unlike other organizations, the
entry to WTO is very complex, as the latter puts forth numerous
requirements.
The admission mainly depends on the bilateral and multi-lateral
talks, said Mammadguliyev.
Economic Development Minister Farhad Aliyev said earlier that
Azerbaijan will become a full-fledged member of WTO in several years.
The country will benefit greatly from its membership, as it will
improve its investment climate and draw more investments, he said.
Mammadguliyev continued that Armenia, which is a WTO member, will not
be able to impede Azerbaijan’s admission in any way. Upon becoming a
WTO state, Armenia pledged not to veto Azerbaijan’s admission, he
said.
Commenting on Armenia’s admission, the Deputy Foreign Minister said
this country succeeded in this because it started talks on the issue
in 1993, 4 years prior to Azerbaijan. In considering bids, WTO
focuses more not on economic indicators but the commitments made by
countries, he said.
Mammadguliyev noted that WTO member states Armenia, Georgia, Moldova
and Kyrgyzstan have failed to meet a number of WTO requirements.
These countries have appealed to WTO to get numerous concessions and
the issue will be discussed soon, the Deputy Foreign Minister said.
WTO is expected to present its questions to Azerbaijan on the
activities underway in the country’s economic and social fields by
August 1, the Deputy Foreign Minister said.
“Besides answers to these questions, we should, on our end, try to
achieve granting Azerbaijan the status of a ‘developing country’.”
The next round of admission talks is due in Geneva or Brussels in
March 2006.