CAIRO, 19 February 2004 — Economy and finance ministers or their representatives from the 22 members of the Arab League met here yesterday for two days of talks on the organization of an Arab free trade zone first launched in the 1990s. Eight ministers attended the talks at Arab League headquarters in Cairo, while the 14 other members sent ministry representatives. The deputy secretary general for economic affairs, Abdel Rahman Al-Sehibani, said the free trade zone would be operational from 2005, with the elimination of customs duties among member states. Tariffs have already been cut by 80 percent.