Pubdate: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 Source: Khaleej Times (UAE) Copyright: 2005 Khaleej Times Contact: http://khaleejtimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/996 CABINET OKAYS MOU WITH IRAN TO COMBAT NARCOTICS ABU DHABI -- The cabinet met here yesterday with Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the chair. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The cabinet approved a memo from the Interior Ministry on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Islamic Republic of Iran dealing with cooperation in the combating of drugs and other narcotics. The UAE and Iran signed the MoU in Teheran in January this year. The cabinet also approved a memo from the Ministry of Public Works on the budget of the Shaikh Zayed Housing programme for the 2005 fiscal year. The budget is estimated at about Dh660.65 million. It also approved a memo from the Ministry of Communications on the licensing of the Emirates Post Corporation to engage in additional activities, including expedite money transfer and money exchange services. Another memo from the Ministry of Finance and Industry on a federal draft law dealing with the approval of the 2002 federal final statement was approved by the cabinet A report from the Foreign Ministry on the outcome of the 17th Arab summit held recently in Algeria was reviewed by the cabinet. The cabinet also reviewed another report from the Finance Ministry on the first round of talks on the free trade agreement (FTA) between the UAE and the United States. The talks were held here from March 8 to 10. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin