Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan

Free trade agreement with EU possible only after Azerbaijan’s WTO accession, deputy foreign minister says

18 July 2007

“There are common factors in Azerbaijan’s integration into Europe and accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO),” Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev told journalists, APA reports. He said that European Union approves the idea of Azerbaijan’s WTO membership.

“The European Union action plan also covers issues on the WTO. We are negotiating with the European Union on admission to the Organisaton. These two processes supplement each other. We should make an effective use of them so that to integrate into Europe and become a WTO member,” he said.

Mr. Mammadguliyev said that Azerbaijan will not be able to raise the issue on signing free trade agreement with the European Union unless it is the member of WTO.
“European Union considers that Azerbaijan should first of all become WTO member then debate on free trade agreement. These issues are closely connected with each other,” he said.