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GV INTERIOR Syrian and European Economic Community delegates at opening session listening to speech by Syrian Foreign Minister, Abdul, Halim Khaddam.
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SV PAN FROM Khaddam speaking TO delegates listening.
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GV PAN FROM Delegates seated listening.
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TRACKING SHOT Delegates seated listening.
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LV ZOOM INTO CU Delegates applaud as Khaddam finishes speech.
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Initials JS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Delegates from three Arab countries and the European Economic Community are currently holding a series' of talks, which are aimed at strengthening the EEC's links with the Arab world. The talks between the EEC and Syria, Egypt and Jordan follow the official signing of several agreements, in January last year, aimed at increasing economic and trade ties between the European Community and the Arab league nations.

SYNOPSIS: On Saturday (9 December), an EEC delegation started talks with Syrian representatives in Damascus. Syrian Foreign Minister, Abdul Halim Khaddam, delivered the address at the opening session in the Syrian capital. In April, 1976, similar co-operation agreements were concluded between the EEC and the three Maghreb countries - algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

There has been a marked increase in the EEC's exports to Arab League countries in recent years, and the European Community is by far their largest trading partner. During the eight years from 1970 to 1977, exports from the EEC to the Arab countries have gone up by 578 percent.

In the case of the Syria, all Syrian industrial exports enjoy free access to the EEC market. The only exceptions are in the case of petroleum products and certain cotton fabrics, where there is a limit to the quantity which may be exported to EEC countries.