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WEEKLY ECONOMIC REVIEW

Analysis Materials 15 November 2006 12:02 (UTC +04:00)

The Secretariat of the World Trade Organization (WTO) defined the initial date of the 5th round of talks with Azerbaijan. This round of talks on full membership of Azerbaijan at the World Trade Organization (WTO) was scheduled for mid or end of February 2007.

Earlier, the conduct of talks was earlier scheduled for late November-early December 2006, whereas the WTO Secretariat refused with consideration that Azerbaijan should pay more and more attention to the bilateral talks.

Thus, prior to meeting of a negotiation group from the Azerbaijani government and WTO Secretariat, there are plans for conduct of bilateral talks with the members of the organization Turkey, the EU and perhaps, the United States. These countries are interested in Azerbaijan's policy in the sphere of customs registration, licensing, privatization, standardization and certification, price policy. In difference to Russia, that Georgia threatened with making obstacles in is entrance to the organization, Azerbaijan enjoys support of the majority of WTO member-states.

There is disagreement with respect to the price policy, privatization and changes into the legislation. In terms of privatization the WTO member-states ask about enterprises which have been privatized, or under privatization, and those under state ownership. By this way they want to clarify the list of enterprises involved in the international trade.

In the sphere of price policy they are interested in the way of definition of a mechanism on application of Law on Regulated Prices, adopted at Milli Majlis in 2003.

Following the changes observed over 1-1.5 years a list of licensed types of activities, which was expected by 5-6 types after the introduction of permit system in the telecommunications and transport, it will be also under discussion with the WTO member-states. The changes were injected in the procedures of licensing for import of alcohol and tobacco products, as well as expected increase in excise rate for import of these products and vehicles.

So far, the country has concluded talk with Moldova, Georgia and Oman and is going to sign agreement with these countries.

Azerbaijan has enjoyed an observer status at the WTO since 1997 and unfortunately, still it has some unsolved issues impeding the country's full membership at this prestigious organization.

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