Mahmoud Mammadguliyev, the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Ministry of Economic Development, is developing proposals to increase the status of the State Commission in preparation for Azerbaijan's entrance into the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The stipulation to strengthen and improve the status of the State Commission, its expansion with firm commitments so that all persons involved are able to reply immediately to inquiries by the commission and be able to provide necessary information for more intensive talks.
At present this new structure is under consideration and which may be in the form of a Council directed at the President, Mr. Mammadguliyev noted. The proposals are expected to be presented to the Government shortly.
One of the key tasks of the Country is to improve the legislation in line with the WTO standards and these measures will be completed by the end of 2007. The second task is the intensification of bilateral talks on goods and services. The next meeting with the WTO member-states is scheduled for December, but due to the busy schedule of the organization regarding negotiations with Vietnam and Russia, we asked for time to get prepared. I hope that the next 5th round of talks will be held by late February/early March 2007. Before the meeting, it is planned to hold bilateral talks with some countries, including Turkey and the European Union, to make it effective, Mammadguliyev stressed.