Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 20/ Trend N. Ismayilova/
The issue to hold multilateral talks on agriculture between the Azerbaijani government and the working group of the World Trade Organization (WTO) remains open, Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev head of negotiation group, deputy foreign minister said on Feb. 20.
"Multilateral talks on agriculture first were planned to be held in December. But late 2008 was intensive for the WTO, so countries regarded irrelevant to hold the meeting," Mammadgulyev said.
Proposals of technical character were received only from the U.S up to now, he said.
"The EU countries will voice their proposals during bilateral talks, Mammadguliyev said. But data of the talks is not scheduled yet."
"We think that Azerbaijan must join the WTO as developing country. Moreover, benefits are granted to such nations, including in the agricultural sector," deputy minister said.
CIS countries joined the WTO before Azerbaijan entered as developed countries. But it does not affect Azerbaijani position, he said.
Since 1997 Azerbaijan has been presented as the observer in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
According to the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation's program (CAREC), members-countries of the program will join the WTO by 2013. Presently, three of eight CAREC countries, including China, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, are the members of the WTO.
On Feb. 20, the official exchange rate is 0.8062 AZN per $1.
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