Alan Waddams: EU to help Azerbaijan in accession to WTO

Alan Waddams, head of the representative office of the European Commission in Azerbaijan, has declared that the EU will render Azerbaijan every help in acceding the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"In all the negotiations on Azerbaijan's accession to WTO, the EU tries to support Azerbaijan," Mr Waddams said today.

"Surely, the European Union supports the accession of Azerbaijan to WTO. However, it's a complicated procedure, since discussions and negotiations are needed not only with the EU, but also with other countries," he added, having explained that there are some difficulties in considering services and tariffs.

According to Mr Waddams, on June 20 Brussels will host a session of the Azerbaijan-EU Cooperation Committee to consider a number of such issues. The discussion will touch on human rights, progress of democracy, elections, cooperation and neighbourhood policy. And in April 2009, a similar session of the Industry and Power Subcommittee will take place.

We remind you that Azerbaijan has WTO observer's status since 1997 and aspires to finalize negotiations about its full-fledged membership in 2009.