Iraq bids to join WTO

GENEVA, Oct 14 (AFP) - Iraq has asked to join the World Trade Organization, a WTO spokesman said here Thursday, eight months after having been given observer status.
He said Iraqi Trade Minister Mohammed al-Jiburi asked the WTO's executive body, the general council, to open negotiations on Iraq's candidacy. The request was made in a letter dated September 30 to WTO Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi.
Backed by the United States, Iraq was given WTO observer status in February, entitling it to apply for full membership in the coming five years.
News of Iraq's bid now surprised diplomats here.
"I would have thought they would wait until the country was stable," one diplomat observed.
"It's probably an effort to show that Iraq is stabilizing."
An Iraqi delegation conferred here last week with representatives from several WTO members and was told it would be better to wait a bit before putting forward Iraq's candidacy, according to a source close to the WTO.
The European Union in January said it backed observer status for Iraq but also wanted Syria and Iran to be accorded the same designation, a move opposed by the United States.