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Azerbaijan proposes WTO to hold meeting

 Azerbaijan proposes member-countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to hold a separate meeting of a working group on services, proposals, the negotiation group head, Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev said.

Proposals for the services have already been sent to the secretariat of the WTO.

So our main task is to finalize proposals for goods to enter into bilateral negotiations and reach the working group meeting.

Time for another round of talks depends on the submission of proposals by the Azerbaijani side on goods to hold bilateral talks.

However, if the WTO member-states accept our proposal, we are ready to hold a separate meeting of the Working Group on Services and then on the goods ", Mammadguliyev said.

He said that Azerbaijan has not got updated proposals for the goods.


The governmental commission on the preparations for accession to the WTO prepared proposals in services for the U.S., EU, Japan and South Korea.

Bilateral and multilateral negotiations, the need for improvement "Bound" tariff on certain agricultural products and fish products were considered during the February meeting of the Azerbaijani governmental commission.


After July [2009] meeting with the WTO Working Group [VII round of multilateral negotiations], along with U.S. and EU, questions and comments from Australia, concerning the schedule of domestic support and export subsidies which Azerbaijan is going to use have been received. The questions concerning tariffs were received from Brazil. The questions concerning both tariffs and services were received from South Korea.

Azerbaijan is striving for joining the WTO with the status of a developing country. It will allow the country to provide greater financial support to the agricultural sector, as in this case, the country will be able to keep subsidizing at the level of 10 percent of GDP produced in agriculture.


At present, subsidies to the agricultural sector of Azerbaijan are on average 14-15 percent. Taking into account the great need of the country's agriculture in support, Azerbaijan refuses from joining the WTO as a developed country, especially on what the U.S. insist, as it will allow getting access to subsidies at the level of five percent.

Restrictions are imposed on subsidies that affect the regulation of prices for agricultural products.

Reclamation, scientific and technical work can be also supported.


Some countries proposed to reduce customs tariffs, setting them below 15 percent, which today are the maximal rate of customs duty in Azerbaijan, during previous negotiations on international trade regime.

Customs duties are estimated at 30 percent in the proposals of the Azerbaijani government, but there are also higher. ["Bound" rates suggested by Azerbaijan are provided on a contingency to protect local production].


Tariff commitments are also main in the process of bilateral negotiations between the EU and the U.S. Besides the tariff policy, their claims were related to the liberalization of services on intellectual property. They suggest opening up markets in the financial, communication sector, a distribution service, the distribution area.

Azerbaijan is in the process of negotiations with the United States, Japan, Brazil, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, European Union, Norway, India, South Korea, Chinese Province of Taiwan. In 2009, Switzerland joined this list.


At present, negotiations are completed. The protocols were signed with Turkey, the Sultanate of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Georgia. The country is at the stage of signing the protocol with Moldova, which still considers the document. But Kyrgyzstan has agreed to sign it.

Recently, the WTO secretariat has expanded the working group on Azerbaijan by including four more countries - Ukraine, Brazil, Ecuador and Switzerland. As a result, the total number of members of the working group reached 32, including 27 EU countries.

A working group on Azerbaijan under the WTO was established July 16, 1997.


Since 1997, Azerbaijan has been represented at the World Trade Organization as an observer

 

 

CESD Organized Workshop For Health Employees


 Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD) organized next workshop for health employees in Salyan district on June, 17, 2009 with support of State NGO Alliance of Azerbaijan Republic. Representatives of local health organizations, local governments, municipalities and mass-media attended the workshop. In the opening speech, Dr. Vugar Bayramov, the chairman of CESD, spoke about importance of applying of medical insurance program in Azerbaijan. He said that now only 5 per cent of health expenditures are medical insurance: “Using of medical insurance will also reduce illegal payments in health system and will civilize relations among doctors and patients.

 Yashar Zeynalov and Kanan Karimzada, experts of CESD, shared their opinions on medical insurance system in sessions organized within the workshop. CESD staff responds participants’ questions. Next workshop is scheduled to be held in Salyan district on June, 17, 2009.

 

 CESD held next workshop in Terter

  Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD) held next workshop in Terter with participation of municipality, community, local government, NGOs and Mass-Media representatives in February, 18, 2009. In his opening speech, Dr. Vugar Bayramov, the chairman of Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD), said that the project is implemented within the framework of the “Bridging the gap; developing audit system in local governments to improve accountability and enhance transparency in Azerbaijan ” Project with funding of Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative (LGI): “The first workshop was organized in Khacmaz and the main purpose of the project is educate auditors and to develop auditing system in local governments. Project experts educated internal auditors how to do better audit in local governments.

 

Health Expenditure Tracking Discussed at the Baku Conference

   Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD) held Final Conference of Promoting and Advocating of Community Participation in Public Expenditure Tracking Project with funding of the US Embassy in Baku on July 09, 2008 at the International Press Center with participation of representatives of government bodies, international organizations, donors, NGOs, think tanks and mass-media.
    Dr. Vugar Bayramov, the chairman of Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD), said that the project was implemented within the framework of the “Promoting and Advocating of Community Participation in Public Expenditure Tracking” Project funding of USA Embassy in Baku: “The three days 3 workshops have been organized in Salyan, Terter and Shemkir and the main purpose of the project were to explain to end beneficiaries how government appropriates and distributes funds to provide health care services to residents in rural areas and to provide local citizens with the necessary information and tools to hold local officials accountable for health care spending practices. Ways for health expenditure tracking have been discussed in the workshop. Different cases were applied to explain how community can track public expenditures”.
   Dr. Bayramov said that CESD is going to keep contacts with communities even after the project. CESD has organized 4 quarterly meetings with community members to help public expenditure tracking. CESD Chairman presented results of the project.

 

 CESD Starts Implementing Visiting Fellows Program

   Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD), Azerbaijan starts implementing Visiting Fellows Programs. The first year selection was completed and Kimberly Johnson from Pensilvaniya University (USA) will carry out his research project in Azerbaijan starts from July, 2008 to June, 2009. Visiting Fellow will conduct research how oil revenues are effectively used in Azerbaijan. CESD will technically sustain his stay in Azerbaijan.
   Anar Babayev, FR Manager, mentioned that the CESD plans to host one more fellow from European Union. The Center is currently reviewing applications from EU. Mr. Babayev emphasized that interest to Azerbaijan economy, especially oil sector has been dramatically increased owing to increasing of number of applications received.

 

CESD held next workshop in Salyan

Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD) held next workshop in Terter with participation of municipality, community, local government, NGOs and Mass-Media representatives. In his opening speech, Dr. Vugar Bayramov, the chairman of Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD), said that the project is implemented within the framework of the “Promoting and Advocating of Community Participation in Public Expenditure Tracking” Project funding of USA Embassy in Baku: “The first workshop was organized in Salyan and the main purpose of the project is to to explain to end beneficiaries how government appropriates and distributes funds to provide health care services to residents in rural areas and to provide local citizens with the necessary information and tools to hold local officials accountable for health care spending practices.

Dr. Azer Mehtiyev, the chairman of Center for Public Initiatives, had presentation on waysfor health expenditure tracking. He used different cases to explain how community can track public expenditures.

Dr. Gubad Ibadoglu, the chairman of Economic Research Center, spoke about state budget expenditures and he mentioned that health expenditures has been increased twice last year, however, there is big problem to track health expenditures.

 

CESD Presented The Strategy Paper

Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD) presented its strategy paper on Effectively Using of Oil Revenues at Hyatt-Reycenci Hotel on December, 19, 2007 in Baku, Azerbaijan with participation of representatives from government bodies, international organizations, NGOs, Mass-Media.

Dr. Vugar Bayramov, chairman of CESD, said that the purpose of the research was to prepare policy recommendations to improve effectively using of oil revenues. Foreign experience, especially Norway and Kazakhstan Model has been studied to find out possibilities to apply them in Azerbaijan Case. State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan Republic (SOFAR) activities were specifically premeditated.

CESD Chairman paid specific attention to the strengthening of sterilization process and suggested putting limit to transfers from the Fund to the State Budget. CESD also suggests specific indicators to improve the Fund’s performance.

Musfig Bayramov, representative of SOFAR, welcomed the CESD’s strategy paper and mentioned the fund will consider some recommendations in the near future.

Representatives of BP, SOCAR, EITI, different Ministries and NGOs participated in the discussions.

CESD Chairman will have speech at the Berlin Conference

Vugar Bayramov, the chairman of CESD will have speech at "Common Foreign Policy Priorities towards an Open Society. Can Strategic Thinking Provide New Impetus towards Democratic Reform and Stability in the EU's Eastern Neighbours?” Conference. Dr. Bayramov's speech will address to ENP and Azerbaijan; Towards European Integration.

 

CESD Representative Had Speech in the WBI Workshop in Sarajevo

Dr. Vugar Bayramov attended the “Local Governance and Social Accountability” workshop held by World Bank Institute in Sarajevo , Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 27-29, 2007. Participants from Europe , Central Asia and OECD countries attended the event. Dr. Bayramov had speech on Public Expenditure Tracking in Communities which implemented by CESD.

He mentioned that t he goal of the project was on tracking of development funds to districts for the sector mentioned above. Pilot villages were selected from each selected districts to be trained and educated how they can track public expenditures. There is a particular emphasis on the tracking of health funds as these represent the single largest disbursement to villages. There are several issues related to tracking of development funds to project also tracks the delivery of items to village level services, particularly health kit. Emphasis in the tracking of the health kits delivery was on the timing of deliveries and service delivery.

The specific goals of the project were to empower communities’ participation in public expenditures tracking, increase awareness on public expenditure, and enhance transparency in the process of using of health fund in communities.

The project aimed at preparing and developing policy recommendation on public expenditure effectively tracking to be submitted to the Government of Azerbaijan ( GoA ). In the result of implementation of the project communities had more and comprehensive information on health and education expenditure and especially how they are tracked. By holding seminars cooperation between communities were strengthened and their activities in terms of tracking health expenditure will be concentrated. In the result, the government faced well organized interest groups in regions and took those groups seriously into account while using of public funds. Both the government and community members had benefit form the process. The government continues its job more sufficient and intensive in case of cooperation with community members. Communities have instruments to influence on usage of health fund to fight with misusing of public money and funds are addressed to communities not to private pockets. Thus, both state officials and more than 100 communities got benefit from the implementation of the project. Taking into consideration that hundreds and even thousands people live in each community then hundred thousands people are beneficiaries of the project.

The State Budget guideline is the main instrument for implementation of government policy decisions on public expenditure programs. Meanwhile, Public Expenditure Review (PER) is the main annual instrument for monitoring pro – poor expenditures. There is a growing demand for data/information and models for effective and accuracy monitoring and evaluation and tracking of the pro – poor funds identified for the village communities. CESD, felt that can play a role as an input to PER by implementing a pilot project to be followed by comprehensive project in tracking government pro – poor expenditure within priority sectors such as health. The geographical focus for the pilot project encompassed 9 villages from 3 districts of Azerbaijan .

OXFAM-Novib representative visited CESD

Sascha Noe, Programmer Officer Caucasus of OXFAM Novib, visited CESD office on January 15, 2006 to discuss cooperation opportunities between two organizations. Dr. Vugar Bayramov, Chairman of CESD, Ms. Faine Xalifova and Elchin Rashidov, Board members attended the meeting. Dr. Bayramov gave comprehensive information about the CESD activities and projects implemented by the think tank. Overall economic and social situation of the country, especially transparency issues in oil sector was also discussed. Both side expressed the importance of increasing role of SCOs in Azerbaijan . Mr. Elchin Rashidov spoke about budget transparency including social-marginal groups.

Dr. Bayramov met also Dawn Ng, Programme Officer on Eastern Europe , Caucasus and Central Asia . Azerbaijan ’s Accession to the WTO was discussed in the meeting.