Gulf Arabs accept Iran offer for talks on free trade pact
Monday, 3 September 2007
JEDDAH, Sept 2 (AFP): Pro-western Gulf Arab monarchies have agreed to an Iranian offer to launch talks on a possible free trade pact, the secretary general of their oil-rich bloc said yesterday.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah discussed a letter from their Iranian counterpart "regarding Iran's readiness to reach a free trade agreement with GCC member states," Abdurrahman al-Attiyah told reporters after their meeting.
Attiyah said that in light of the letter from Iran's Manouchehr Mottaki, "it was agreed to express the readiness of GCC states to engage in negotiations to conclude an agreement to set up a free trade zone" with the Islamic republic.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah discussed a letter from their Iranian counterpart "regarding Iran's readiness to reach a free trade agreement with GCC member states," Abdurrahman al-Attiyah told reporters after their meeting.
Attiyah said that in light of the letter from Iran's Manouchehr Mottaki, "it was agreed to express the readiness of GCC states to engage in negotiations to conclude an agreement to set up a free trade zone" with the Islamic republic.