Heydar Babayev, Azerbaijan Economic Development Minister, informed Trend that The U. S. Government expressed its readiness to back Azerbaijan in the issue of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).
USA is going to resume its consultative assistance within the technical aid that this country has rendered to Azerbaijan since 2003 in order to fulfill the tasks that were posed to us in order to be ready to become a WTO member in 2007, said the Minister.
Azerbaijan is preparing for the next (fifth) stage of negotiations on its joining WTO, which are expected to be held in the first half of 2007.
Up to date, Azerbaijan has held 4 meetings with WTO. The first two ones were dedicated to the discussion of issues connected with foreign trade regime. During the last two ones, since 2005, the country has launched large-scale negotiations.