THE 12 ARAB MEMBER STATES OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO) WILL FORM A NEGOTIATING BLOC WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM, EGYPTIAN TRADE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER RASHID MOHAMMED RASHID SAID ON TUESDAY ACCORDING TO REUTERS. RASHID TOLD REPORTERS ON THE SIDELINES OF A MEETING OF ARAB MINISTERS THAT WTO DIRECTOR-GENERAL PASCAL LAMY WOULD RECEIVE OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE NEW GROUP NEXT WEEK. RASHID 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. THE BLOC WILL SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS OF ITS MEMBER STATES AS LONG AS THOSE INTERESTS DID NOT CLASH WITH THOSE OF THE REST OF THE BLOC, RASHID SAID. HE SAID HE HAD DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH LAMY, WHO WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THE INITIATIVE. "THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS IN THE WTO DOES ENCOURAGE SUCH GROUPINGS," RACHID SAID, CITING THE ORGANISATION'S NEED FOR CONSENSUS AND THE DIFFICULTIES OFTEN FACED BY SMALLER COUNTRIES WITH LIMITED RESOURCES DURING NEGOTIATIONS. HE SAID EGYPT WOULD WANT TO ENSURE IT KEPT ITS PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES. THE BLOC IS EXPECTED TO EVENTUALLY INCLUDE SIX OTHER ARAB STATES WHICH ARE NOW IN TALKS ON ACCESSION TO THE WTO. TEAMS FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WILL START MEETING FORMALLY NEXT WEEK.
