Italy Backs Morocco's Candidate to WTO Top Post

Italy backs the Moroccan candidate to the top post of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Italian Ambassador to Morocco, Guido Martini, said on Monday.

Italy, like other Mediterranean countries called the "Olive Nations" back Hassan Abouyoub, the ambassador said, citing France, Spain, Greece and Portugal.

Martini, who was attending the Moroccan-Italian partnership days in leather industry, said his country's decision to back Abouyoub is sound in view of the candidate's skills and human qualities.

Abouyoub, 44, is the youngest of all candidates.

The WTO is supposed to replace by April at the latest its first director Renato Ruggiero of Italy who announced he is not running for another term.