The second way to encourage ties to the global economy is to create a more favorable business climate. Let me say, there is interest. I hosted a meeting in my office with Chairman Arafat and American business leaders. They were very interested in the chairman's plans for economic development. But obstacles remain.
Commercial standards are one problem.
You can't make any money if you have to make 10 different versions of the same product. So we held a conference on this in December, in Egypt. Fifteen nations from around the region attended. And we hope it will result in a regional organization to set uniform product standards. Similar efforts to reduce trade barriers are under way in the Persian Gulf and throughout North Africa.