1.
GV Amman International Hotel
0.05

2.
SV INTERIOR North Yemeni delegate speaking in Arabic
0.10

3.
SV Delegate listening
0.13

4.
SV North Yemeni delegate continues speaking
0.21

5.
CU ZOOM OUT TO Iraqi delegate taking notes
0.27

6.
SV & CU Jordanian delegate listening to North Yemeni delegate speaking (2 shots)
0.53

7.
GV Delegates applauding
0.56

8.
CU ZOOM OUT Secretary General of Arab Economic Unity Council, Dr. Fakhri Kadouri speaking in Arabic with Council official listening (3 shots)
1.15



Initials BB/



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Top financial and economic ministers of the Arab League states have been meeting in Amman in Jordan.

SYNOPSIS: The meeting is regarded as one of the most important among Arab states since the decision to transfer Arab league headquarters from Cairo to Tunis. Most of the twelve nations of the Arab League were represented at the Amman-based Council for Arab Economic Unity summit. They included finance ministers from North and South Yemen, Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan.

As the name of the Council suggests, its aims are to develop a common economic strategy for all Arab League states. The ultimate aim is to achieve a full economic unity. Until then some Arab states are working on bi-lateral arrangements. Jordan and Kuwait have already planned talks to improve co-operation.

But at present the issue dominating Arab-League states is the final transfer of League headquarters from Cairo to Tunis. Since Egypt's suspension from the League there's been a tug-of-war waging over League documents still int he hands of the Egyptians. The issue is complicated as Egypt maintains that Cairo is the legal headquarters of the Arab League.