WTO asked to add Arabic as group's official language

BALI, Indonesia, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Two Bahraini lawmakers urged the World Trade Organization Monday to add Arabic to the organization's list of official languages.

English, French and Spanish are currently the only languages the WTO uses for official documents, translations and interpretations, Gulf News reported.

Abdul Halim Murad and Ahmad Ebrahim Bahzad, both members of Bahrain's Parliament, made the request at a WTO parliamentary conference in the Indonesian capital Bali.

Their request was supported by Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Morocco.

Arabic is spoken in more than 20 countries and is one of six official languages used at the United Nations. The other languages are Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.