Egypt backs all Arab economic integration

Egypt's People's Assembly Speaker and Head of the Egyptian delegation taking part in the 38th session of the Arab Parliamentary Union said Egypt's stance has been and will always be based on backing all steps aiming at bolstering the march of Arab cooperation and economic integration.

In a speech delivered on behalf of Assembly Speaker Fathi Sorour, Egypt's representative in the Parliamentary Body Ahmed Abu Zeid said that what was achieved so far is not up to the level of Arab ambitions nor to the level of challenges facing the Arab nation.

"The Arab free trade area is applied by only 14 countries and three countries have not yet joined the agreement on facilitating and developing trade exchange among Arab countries, namely Algeria, Djibouti and Comoros," he said .

Kamal Al-shazli, Minister of People's Assembly and Shura Council Affairs and member of the delegation, stressed in a speech the importance to activate the Arab code of ethics proposed by President Hosni Mubarak so as to guarantee reaching principles of the joint Arab action.

Shazli called for lifting the sanctions of the brotherly Libya people now that the Libyan government has fulfilled all its obligations and an immediate solution for the tragedy befalling the Iraqi people for years.

Fayda Kamel, a member of the delegation, called in a meeting of the Women's Affairs Committee for including women in formulation of public general policies and for removing any gender discrimination.