Armenia has Obligation not to Hinder Azerbaijan’s Membership at WTO: Deputy Foreign Minister (video)

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Agayeva / Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev, the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, reported on 6 July that Armenia has officially made a commitment in 2003 not to hinder Azerbaijan in its entrance to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and must fulfill this obligation. Mammad-Gulim, also head of the negotiation group for Azerbaijan's entrance to the WTO, was commenting on a recent statement by Vardan Oskanian, the Armenian Foreign Minister, who urged that Armenia will not allow Azerbaijan's membership at the WTO.

"I have heard it from the media. However, when a question on Azerbaijan's entrance to the WTO was raised in 2003, at Azerbaijan's demand [which was supported by several countries], Armenia made an official appeal to the WTO secretariat making a commitment not to hinder Azerbaijan's membership at the WTO," the deputy foreign minister reminded.

The diplomat noted that until the resolution of a conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, any co-operation with Armenia is out of the question, even if Azerbaijan enters this organization. It does not contradict WTO principles, he noted.