NAIROBI, April 14 (Reuters) - Members of the East African Community (EAC) could sign a common markets deal by the end of April if three outstanding issues are resolved, Kenya said on Tuesday.
The EAC which comprises Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, has set itself a Jan. 1, 2010 target to have an operational common market which allows the free movement of goods, people, capital and services within the bloc.
But it still needs to reach agreement on issues concerning travel documents, land ownership and the right of residence, Kenya's Minister for East African Community, Amason Kingi, said.
Tanzania opposes proposals that citizens from other EAC states could own land or be entitled to permanent residency after living in an EAC country for five years.
It also wants east Africans travelling in Tanzania to use passports, although the other states are happy for ID cards to be used as the only form of identification.
"We have done about 98 percent of the protocol, there are some sticky areas. Tanzania still holds some positions that are not shared by the other member states," Kingi said.
"I don't think these outstanding issues will push the coming into effect of the common market protocol beyond the expected period. We intend to have this by 2010, we still have so much time to iron out these aspects," he added.
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda are agreed on the three issues, he said.
Presidents from the five nations are scheduled to meet in Tanzania at the end of April and hopefully the protocol would be agreed on for their signing, Kingi said.
Once the agreement is signed, the member states will then have to ratify it before it can come into effect.
The EAC hopes a bloc with a combined population of over 121 million people will be easier to sell as an investment, trade or travel destination instead of a constellation of five tiny and poor countries.
It already has a functioning customs union and hopes to eventually become a political federation. (Reporting by Helen Nyambura-Mwaura; Editing by Katie Nguyen)