THE 12 ARAB MEMBER STATES OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO) AGREED TO FORM A NEGOTIATING BLOC WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM, EGYPTIAN TRADE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER RASHEED MOHAMMED RASHEED SAID ON THURSDAY. RASHEED TOLD REPORTERS ON THE SIDELINES OF A MEETING OF ARAB MINISTERS THAT THE MEMBERS HAVE INDORSED THE EGPTIAN INITIATIVE TO TAKE A UNIFIED ARAB STANCE TOWARDS THE ISSUES OF LIBERATION OF INDUSTRIAL GOODS AND DOHA ROUND OF TALKS BEFORE THE WTO CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR GENEVA ON 29 JUNE 2006. HE SAID THE MEMBERS DID NOT EXPECT THE BLOC TO HAVE A COMMON POSITION IN ALL CASES. 'THE ISSUES ARE COMPLICATED AND WE EXPECT THAT WE WON'T HAVE COMMON GROUND ON EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE SEEKING A MINIMUM AGREEMENT,' HE SAID. --MORE 22/06/2006 22:08 ت م
