Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec.12 /Trend A.Akhundov/
Azerbaijan should not cooperate with Armenia in case of the World Trade Organization (WTO) accession, Deputy Foreign Minister, Chief Negotiator on the accession Mahmoud Mammadguliyev told journalists.
"The charter of the WTO has an article, according to which, certain countries do not cooperate with each other, given the political security issues," Mammadguliyev said.
He noted that Armenia, when joining the WTO, has sent a letter stating that it would not oppose the entry of Azerbaijan in this organization.
"As a member of the WTO, Armenia participates in the working group on the admission of Azerbaijan, but does not direct any questions or suggestions, knowing that it will not get an answer," Mammadguliyev said.
Azerbaijan has been represented at the World Trade Organisation as an observer since 1997 and began negotiating in 2004. Azerbaijan is holding bilateral negotiations with the United States, Japan, Brazil, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, European Union, Norway, India, South Korea, Taiwan Province of China, Canada, Switzerland and Honduras.
Negotiations with Turkey, the Sultanate of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan have been completed and protocols were signed. The country is in the process of signing the protocol with Moldova, which is still considering the document.
The working group on Azerbaijan to the WTO was established on July 16, 1997.