Arabs push for Arabic to be official WTO language
GENEVA. January 27. KAZINFORM. Arab members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are pushing for Arabic to be made a fourth official language of the global trade body, diplomats and officials said on Tuesday; Kazinform refers to China Daily.
But the heavy cost of translation, interpreting and extra printing involved in adding Arabic to the three current official languages - English, French and Spanish - means the proposal is running up against resistance.
"There has been a formal request made by Kuwait and members are engaged in consultations now," WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell said.
Adding three languages would cost about 45 million Swiss francs ($43 million) a year, the ambassador said - no small amount given a total WTO budget in 2009 of 189 million francs.
The WTO's 153 members include a dozen Arab countries, and another six are applying to join, including Iraq, Algeria and Libya; Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version.