US COMMITTED TO ASSISTANCE IN WTO ADMISSION
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 8 2005
The government of Azerbaijan has received another portion of assistance
for the process of admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has allotted $981,000
to be spent on improving legislation, developing new laws, answering
questions forwarded by WTO member states and other activities. The
Economic Development Ministry and USTDA signed a relevant agreement
on Thursday. Minister Farhad Aliyev speaking at the event said
USTDA has provided grants worth $1.943 million to Azerbaijan over the
past two years to start active talks on WTO admission. He said that
on account of the grants, the government has prepared and sent to
Geneva documents concerning intellectual property, standardization,
sanitation, and subsidies in the agricultural sector. The chart on
customs duties has been compiled and a memorandum on foreign trade
turnover re-worked, said Aliyev. "The WTO membership will be very
beneficial for Azerbaijan. The country's accession to the organization
will improve its legal system, increase foreign trade turnover and
promote its closer integration into global economy. Moreover, the
existing restrictions on Azeri exports to all other member states
will be lifted." Aliyev emphasized that WTO currently comprises 148
member states, including developed countries. In the initial stage,
Azerbaijan counts on receiving concessions on agriculture and some
other fields, he said. The minister cited some 'negative instances'
discovered recently in Azerbaijan that are not observed in neighboring
countries. "The serious shortfalls found during a recent monitoring
are not encountered in Georgia and Armenia, which are WTO member
states, as the customs and other economic transactions carried out
there are in compliance with world standards."
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 8 2005
The government of Azerbaijan has received another portion of assistance
for the process of admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has allotted $981,000
to be spent on improving legislation, developing new laws, answering
questions forwarded by WTO member states and other activities. The
Economic Development Ministry and USTDA signed a relevant agreement
on Thursday. Minister Farhad Aliyev speaking at the event said
USTDA has provided grants worth $1.943 million to Azerbaijan over the
past two years to start active talks on WTO admission. He said that
on account of the grants, the government has prepared and sent to
Geneva documents concerning intellectual property, standardization,
sanitation, and subsidies in the agricultural sector. The chart on
customs duties has been compiled and a memorandum on foreign trade
turnover re-worked, said Aliyev. "The WTO membership will be very
beneficial for Azerbaijan. The country's accession to the organization
will improve its legal system, increase foreign trade turnover and
promote its closer integration into global economy. Moreover, the
existing restrictions on Azeri exports to all other member states
will be lifted." Aliyev emphasized that WTO currently comprises 148
member states, including developed countries. In the initial stage,
Azerbaijan counts on receiving concessions on agriculture and some
other fields, he said. The minister cited some 'negative instances'
discovered recently in Azerbaijan that are not observed in neighboring
countries. "The serious shortfalls found during a recent monitoring
are not encountered in Georgia and Armenia, which are WTO member
states, as the customs and other economic transactions carried out
there are in compliance with world standards."