MIDRAND (South Africa), May 4: Several Middle East and North African countries urged the United Nations conference on trade and development (UNCTAD) yesterday to grant technical and industrial assistance to developing countries, reports AFP

UNCTAD, founded 32 years ago to promote international trade and development for the world's poorest countries, has recently faced pressure from the United States. Britain and other donor countries to scale down its operations.

Officials from two rival Middle East nations. Libya and Israel, were united Friday in stressing the UN body's importance in providing technical assistance to developing nations.

Israel's Ambassador to iGeneva. Neville Yosef Lamdan. Isaid UNCTAD has provided "vital” international technical assistance in the past, which

had resulted in new and unprecedented bilateral and multilateral training and research programme*. between Israel and its Arab neighbours

Libyan trade minister Ab dul-Hafiz Zlitni called on developed nations t^ provide "appropriate technical assistance. to poorer countries, including non-members of the world trade organisation (WTO)

Zlitni said Libya and other countries” faced a dire need" to acquire spare parts for power plants, factories and transport facilities as a result of the US sanctions against It

TJie United States imposed a trade blockade on Libya after its leader. Muammar Gadaffi refused to hand over suspects in the 1989 bombing of an airliner over Lockerbie. Scotland, in which more than 270 people died.

US authorities have also accused Libya of building a

chemical weapons plant south of Tripoli the country's capi-

On Thursday Bahrain Commerce Ministry spokesman Mohamed Baqer called on developed countries to accept their responsibility" to help the economies of poorer nations become internationally competitive.

Later the same day, Alge-rias Commerce Minister, Abdel Karim Harchaoui. said that despite world trade Initiatives. " developing economies could not improve "in a real way" avithout constant dialogue with richer nations.

Since the conference began last Saturday, several western nations, including the United States and Britain. have called for serious reforms and programme cuts to the UN body

Melinda Ktmble. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, announced the country will

soon pay Its 311 million dollar membership 1995 fees to UNCTAD's parent, the UN, but added that UNCTAD must find a new focus and become "streamlined”.

Earlier* In the week. Iranian Commerce Minister Yahya ale Isbagh called UNCTAD "the most relevant" body of the UN dealing with development, trade and technology

Ishagh said UNCTAD should try to increase trade between the northern and southern, hemispheres, adding that "the use of trade and economic lever to exert pressure and to seek political motives Is a new and harmful phenomenon in world trade." *

Friday. Lebanon s Ambas sador to South Africa. Charbel Stephan, praised the role of international trade in rebuilding his country's communications and economic infrastruc ture.