The Arab Economic and Social Council concluded here today its 82nd session under the chairmanship of the Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al- Assaf, who is the head of the delegation of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the session. Regarding the great Arab free trade zone, the Arab Finance Ministers stressed the need for completing the implementation of the Executive Programme of the Greater Arab Free Trade Zone. The Council approved the request of Sudan and Yemen to be exempted from the rest of tariff reductions on goods until 2015. The Council also approved the amendment to the Statute of the Council of Arab Tourism Ministers regarding the transfer of the executive committee of tourism to an executive office. Regarding the request of Iraq to drop its debts due to Arab countries, the Council authorized the General Secretariat to bring this issue to the Council of the Arab League at the level of Arab foreign ministers. The Council approved the establishment of an Arab ministerial council for water and authorized the Arab League to prepare the statute of the this council.
