VOL. XL

No. 21

26-May-1997

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Finance Minister Calls For ArabTrade Bloc

At last week's conference* held in Beirut, the Saudi Minister of Finance andNational Economy, Dr. Ibrahim al-'Assaf, issued a strong call for greater economic cooperation in theArab world, arguing that the region has no choice but to integrate if it is to prosper in thefuture. "Cooperation between Arab states is low by every measure," said Dr. 'Assaf. "This makes itall the more important that commercial...