AZERBAIJAN MEMBERSHIP TO WTO DOES NOT DEPEND ON NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Regnum, Russia
Aug. 10, 2006

The World Trade Organization has no requirements that make Azerbaijani
membership to the WTO and its further member relations with Armenia
dependable on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a REGNUM
correspondent is told at the Armenian Ministry for Trade and Economic
Development.

The ministry also notes that Azerbaijan has not become a WTO member yet
and its joining the organization is not a matter of one day. "In the
next few months Azerbaijan will definitely be unable to become a WTO
member. To enter this organization, Baku should bring the country’s
economic legislation into accordance with WTO requirements," the
Armenian ministry believes.

It is worth mentioning, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmoud
Mamedkuliyev announced that if the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
has not been settled before Azerbaijan is admitted to the World
Trade Organization, under WTO requirements Azerbaijan would have
a right not to establish economic ties with Armenia. Speaking on
other Azerbaijan duties to the WTO, Mahmoud Mamedkuliyev noted
that Baku should undertake them both before and after entering
the organization. According to him, Azerbaijan would intensify its
activity to enter the WTO. A number of meetings are planned to be
held in Geneva by the end of the year.

It is worth mentioning Armenia became WTO full member in February 2003.