medicine program," according to a report in the Manama "Gulf Daily News" of 29 October.

Also, 325 Palestinian companies will participate in the fair. A Palestinian trade delegation headed by the Palestinian Minister of Trade and Economy Maher Al-Masri will visit Baghdad during the fair to discuss with Iraqi officials the prospects for improving trade and economic relations between the two countries, reported the "Saudi News Digest" of 30 October.

Turkish Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursad Tuzmen will open the Turkish stand at the fair, which will be attended by almost 200 Turkish companies and 350 businessmen, reported Anadolu news agency on 29 October. (David Nissman)

ALGERIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT.
Algerian President Abdulaziz Bouteflika received Iraqi Vice President Taha Yasin Ramadan on 29 October, according to Baghdad Television of 29 October.Ramadan said that the two sides discussed means of developing cooperation and fraternal relations between the peoples of both countries. He also said that this visit will witness the signing of a protocol for establishing a free-trade zone between the two countries to open the way for trade and eventually form an Arab common market. He added that these meetings and future ones will witness the birth of other agreements. When Bouteflika was asked by the Baghdad correspondent when he would visit Baghdad, Bouteflika replied: "Soon." (David Nissman)

RUSSIAN TRUCKS TO BE SHIPPED TO IRAQ IN NOVEMBER.
The Russian-Italian joint venture company Iveco-UralAZ announced that the company plans to send truck to Iraq in November, Interfax reported on 25 October. Deliveries are expected to be completed by January 2002. Iraq