LOC21:51
18:51 GMT
BEIRUT, Jan 10 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Al-Siniora made several phone calls on Saturday with a number of Arab officials to discuss preparations for the Arab economic summit scheduled to be held in Kuwait on 19 and 20 this month.
The Prime Minister's media and Information office said in a statement Siniora telephoned both the Egyptian and Jordanian Prime Ministers Ahmed Nazif and Nader Dhahabi respectively, Saudi Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf and the President of Kuwait-based Arab Fund for Economic Development Abdul-latif Al-Hamad.
The statement added that talks among the leaders focused on the ongoing preparations for the Arab economic summit in Kuwait.
Earlier, speaking to KUNA Lebanese minister of Economy Mohammed Al-Safadi said that Lebanon would submit a paper of proposals for the summit.
The minister noted that such proposals will include "the need to speed up free trade among Arab nations, including services among Arab countries and the establishment of an Arab customs union and the development of education in the Arab world." (end) ayb.mb KUNA 102151 Jan 09NNNN