Syria gains WTO observer status

Syria gained observer status in World Trade Organization (WTO) as an initial step to get the full membership, the Syrian local newspaper al-Watan reported on Wednesday.

None of the WTO members objected to the acceptance of Syria as an observer on Tuesday, however, the United States, the European Union (EU) and Israel abstained from votes, said the report.

Egypt played a positive role in supporting Syria's efforts to join the world organization located in Geneva, the report added.

Damascus has been trying to join the WTO since 2001, but the opposition from the United States, Israel and other countries has been an obstacle.

Syria has decided to form a negotiation work team to hold talks with the WTO over a full membership since it got the news, which is expected to take years with no confirmed result, said the report.

Egypt hailed the WTO General Council's decision, considering the acceptance as a positive step to encourage the Arab countries to join in the organization.

The 153-member WTO, established in 1999 in Geneva, is the only international organization dealing with the rules of trade among nations.

Source: Xinhua