Iraq to sign free trade agreements with three Arab states in the first quarter of 2002

Iraq's vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan has announced that his country will sign agreements to found free trade areas with three Arab states in the first half of this year.

Ramadan said that Iraq proposed with the six Arab states with which it had agreements of this sort: Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen, the UAE the signing of long-trade economic agreements in order to strengthen inter- Arab integration and serving common interests.

Iraq had also signed in conclusion of the 73rd session of the Arab economic council on June 7th in Baghdad an agreement to establish a free trade Arab zone with these states.