PARIS - World Trade Organisation head Supachai Panitchpakdi on Saturday backed controversial U.S. plans to create a Middle East free trade zone and said he was keen to see more Arab states involved in the global trade body.
In an interview with France's Le Monde newspaper ahead of a meeting of the G8 industrialised nations, Supachai said he had not seen details of the U.S. proposal.
"But for me, any effort that helps apply multilateral agreements is in principle a good initiative," the WTO director-general said.
U.S. President George W. Bush outlined plans for a regional free trade accord to foster goodwill in Arab states in a speech on May 9. The reform-linked plan aims to rekindle relations between Middle East countries and the United States with the promise of development and trade.
But many Arabs, mistrustful of Washington's post-Iraq war goals and its perceived pro-Israeli bias, are deeply suspicious of such a proposal, fearing it is a Trojan horse designed to cement U.S. hegemony in the area.
Supachai said he wanted more Arab nations to join the WTO. "More and more often we are trying to involve the Arab countries in our organisation. There are only 11 member countries; others have to be mobilised."
The WTO has observer status at the G8 summit, which will bring together the world's seven most industrialised countries and Russia in the French town of Evian from June 1-3.
"The (G8) leaders need to confirm their political will to help the poor countries," Supachai said, adding that dialogue with non-governmental organisations was essential.
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