Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 29 / Trend A.Akhundov /
The next X round of multilateral talks on Azerbaijan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be held on December 7, the head of the negotiating group, Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev told Trend on Thursday.
Previously, the talks were scheduled for the last week of November, but, at the request of the United States, they were postponed to the first ten days of December. As a part of the next round of talks bilateral meetings will be held with WTO member countries.
"Today, Canada, the U.S., the EU, Norway have expressed willingness to hold bilateral talks with Azerbaijan. Talks with a few more countries are possible," Mammadguliyev said.
The previous, IX round of multilateral talks on Azerbaijan's membership in the WTO took place in February 2012. Azerbaijan held bilateral talks with the U.S., the EU, Norway, Canada, Ecuador and Japan. In addition, bilateral talks were continued with the U.S., China, Canada and Brazil in Geneva on July 24-28.
Today, Azerbaijan is in the process of bilateral negotiations with the U.S., Japan, Brazil, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, the European Union, Norway, India, South Korea, Taiwan Province of China, Canada, Switzerland and Honduras.
Azerbaijan started negotiations in 2004.
The negotiations have been completed and protocols were signed with Turkey, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. Signing of protocol with Moldova is underway, the country is still considering the document.
The working group of Azerbaijan to the WTO was established on July 16, 1997.Since 1997, Azerbaijan is represented in the World Trade Organization as an observer.