Venezuela and Qatar will support stable oil prices, Qatari officials said in a joint statement issued after the end of talks of Venezuela's President Chavez and Venezuela's Energy Minister Alvaro Silva with HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Qatar Oil Minister Abdullah bin hamad al-Attiyah on Wednesday at Doha.
Qatar Oil Minister Abdullah bin hamad al-Attiyah said Wednesday that he still sees $25.00 a barrel for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' basket price as reasonable.
Al-Attiyah was speaking following talks with his Venezuelan counterpart Alvaro Silva, Al-Attiyah said both countries share a common view on the need to "maintain appropriate oil prices." quoted Dow Jones.
Venezuelan President Chavez left Doha for Venezuela's Wednesday after visiting Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Chavez said the two countries discussed oil issues and expressed a desire to broaden bilateral cooperation under OPEC's umbrella to guarantee stability of the oil market in "a manner that would serve the mutual interests of both producers and consumers, as agreed upon at OPEC summit held in Caracas in September 2000." the QNA reported.
The two countries also discussed bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern, the statement added.
They agreed to set up embassies in each other's country and said they would work to further improve economic, trade, cultural and oil cooperation, wrote The Gulf Times.
By Elio Ohep
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
