VENEZUELA HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AS OBSERVER IN THE ARAB LEAGUE

VENEZUELA SAID MONDAY THE ARAB LEAGUE HAS AGREED
TO ACCEPT IT AS AN OBSERVER, DPA REPORTED.
BOTH SIDES PLAN TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT IN SEPTEMBER TO FORMALISE THE
RELATIONSHIP, VENEZUELAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER REINALDO BOLIVAR
SAID IN A STATEMENT.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME BEFORE A TWO-DAY MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTRY
OFFICIALS FROM SOUTH AMERICAN AND ARAB NATIONS THAT OPENS TUESDAY IN
CARACAS, THE VENEZUELAN CAPITAL.
DELEGATIONS FROM 15 ARAB AND 12 SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES WERE DUE
TO DISCUSS COOPERATION IN POLITICS, ECONOMICS, CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT
AND TECHNOLOGY. THEY WILL ALSO PREPARE A PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT OF THE
GROUP PLANNED FOR 2008 IN MOROCCO.
THE CARACAS CONFERENCE WAS CALLED TO FOLLOW UP ON RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM A MAY 2005 SOUTH AMERICAN-ARAB SUMMIT IN BRAZIL.
BOLIVAR MET THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS
OF THE ARAB LEAGUE, AHMED BENHELLI, WHO WILL CHAIR THE MEETING IN
CARACAS.