The EU said Monday that it supports the observer-status membership of Iran, Iraq and Syria to the World Trade Organiztaion (WTO), IRNA reported from Brussels.

European Commission spokesperson for trade, Arancha Gonzalez, told a press briefing in Brussels this afternoon that Iraq has applied for observer-status at the WTO and the issue will be taken up at the WTO General Council meeting on 11 February.

EU trade ministers discussed the issue over dinner Sunday night. "The message that comes out of this dinner is loud and clear the EU supports the Iraqi request to become observer at the WTO," she said.

"The EU thinks this will be good for the Iraqi people and the message that also comes out from this meeting is that we also continue to strongly support observership requests from other countries in the area such as Iran and Syria which have so far been vetoed by the US," noted Gonzalez.

The spokesperson added that as soon as the Iranian and Syrian request is put again on the agenda, "the EU will continue to do what it has done so far, which is to support their request for observership which is the first step to becoming a fully-fledged member of the WTO."

... Payvand News - 1/26/04 ... --