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Time of USAID Technical Assistance for Unification of Azerbaijani Legislation with WTO Requirements Confirmed

Business Materials 23 August 2007 14:27 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend I.Khalilova / From the beginning of September, the US Government will begin realizing the project of technical assistance to bring Azerbaijani legislation into conformity with the requirements of the World Trade Organization (WTO), a source stated at the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan. Some $3.7mln has been allocated in line with the USAID for these goals.

"Currently personnel are employed for the project group and all preparation work should be completed by the end of August," the same source stated. Within the technical assistance, additional staff will be established at the Ministry of Economic Development for the resident consultant who will provide assistance to the State Commission on Entrance to the WTO in devising the documents.

Ten of a total of 40 new legislative acts and changes to the existing standard documents have been developed, whilst only draft changes to the Law on Currency Regulation has been submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.

There have been changes to the laws on Patent, Trade Brands and Geographical Marks, on Copyrights and Combined Rules, on Standards Juridical Acts, as well as a bill on Technical Regulations and changes to the decree by the Cabinet of Ministers.

At present the key task is the change of national legislation, because these measures are to be completed by the end of 2007 by presidential decree.

Over the last three years the United States has provided technical assistance to the development of the documents and offered consultative services for Azerbaijan's admission to the WTO. This has been through the US Trade and Development Department.

The last consultations were given under a grant agreement of $981,000 signed in 2005. The first similar agreement was signed three years ago to the amount of $1.943mln.

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