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Arab League headquarters (2 shots)
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SV INTERIOR Arab delegates take their seat and sitting (4 shots)
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SV Mohammed Mahgoub speaking PAN TO newsmen
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SV Delegates listening and Mahgoub speaks (2 shots)
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Initials CL/1557 CL/1606



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: An estimated ten thousand international firms are on a black list banning them from business in Arab countries, but the Arab Boycott Office - the organisation which has barred the companies because of their trade with Israel - opened a meeting yesterday (Sunday, February 23) during which it will probably reinstate about sixty of the companies.

The companies likely to find favour with the Arabs have all supplied documents declaring they have severed all relations with Israel.

The criterion for the Arab Boycott Office to bar a company has been whether it support Israel's economy or war efforts. The firm must sever these links and pledge to invest as much in Arab countries as it did in Israel, if it wishes to be taken off the black list.

The current meeting, which opened at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo under the chairmanship of Mr. Mohammed Mahgoub, will also consider means of tightening economic measures against Israel. The meeting is expected to last about eighteen days.