Azerbaijan has to answer WTO questions

The discussions were attended by representatives of ministries and other relevant governmental bodies involved in the Task Force on the preparation for admission, APA reports.

Economic Minister Heydar Babayev said that Azerbaijan is currently negotiating with the countries included in the working group for Azerbaijan.

"After IV meeting of the Working Group for Azerbaijan, some WTO member countries put forward inquiries on the economy of Azerbaijan. The questions are chiefly on economic policy, competition climate, privatization, regulation of import and export, certification, licensing, services and intellectual property. The questions will be answered by relevant state bodies."

He also said that a document "Summary of Facts" will be prepared for the meeting of the Working Group to be held by this year's end.

Bilateral discussions with Georgia and Moldavia have already been completed and these countries agreed to sign bilateral protocols.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev Azerbaijan is supported by the US and Germany has also decided to assist Azerbaijan in sanitary and phytosanitary spheres.

"From the beginning of the next year, Switzerland will render technical assistance to Azerbaijan on the sphere of intellectual property. Almost all countries are ready to help Azerbaijan. We have to determine in which sphere we need assistance."

He also said that bilateral talks are being conducted with the USA, the EU, Japan, Canada, Chinese Taiwan and Turkey, and now Working Group member Oman agreed to sign the protocol. The main parties are the US and the EU in talks. The talks are going in 8 directions.

"The number questions are decreasing gradually but the countries are seeking for concrete answers."

He also said that not all the relevant bodies have answered the questions yet. But all answers have to be ready by September 15.