Azerbaijan, Baku, July 16 /Trend, I.Khalilova/
Azerbaijani deputy economic development minister Niyazi Safarov left for Moscow to attend in the discussions over the draft agreement on free trade zone (FTZ) of CIS countries, a government source said on Sept. 15.
The meeting of economic ministers of CIS member states will be held Sept. 16-17 for the first time at Russia's initiative. The purpose of the agreement is to create conditions for free movement of goods within the Commonwealth, as well as eliminating restrictions on trade.
Working group meeting to prepare a draft agreement on free trade zones of CIS countries was held in Moscow on July 15-16, and today it is ready for about 90 percent.
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan participate in the deliberations of this agreement as an observer.
Currently, there are bilateral agreements signed by Azerbaijan with Belarus, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine, but these bilateral agreements are expected to be liquidated during the discussions of the draft agreement.
"This position of Azerbaijan [to act as an observer] is explained through disagreement with Russia's proposal to abolish all import duties, but fix the level of export duties on trade between themselves. Given the power of the Russian fuel and energy complex, yet it refuses to cancel export duties," a government source said earlier.