Russian min: Oil freeze meeting to take place on April 17 in Doha

MOSCOW, Mar 16 (PRIME) -- Oil exporting countries will meet on April 17 in Doha to discuss freezing oil output, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Wednesday following negotiations with ministers of some countries.

“Today we have spoken with ministers of different countries, discussed the date of a corresponding meeting and consultations with OPEC and non-OPEC countries. And we have agreed that such a meeting will be held on April 17 in Doha,” he said.

Representatives of oil producing countries will likely sign a resolution or a joint declaration on an oil production freeze in Doha, Novak said. The documents will be developed by the meeting.

“And we will also discuss a mechanism of monitoring of such agreements, and I believe that it will be a result of the steps which were taken from February 16 – holding consultations with countries on development of a common policy,” the minister said.

The participants of the meeting will also discuss measures against oil producing states, if they violate oil freeze agreements, he said. “There could by a plenty of proposals on the matter, and it is premature to discuss exact measures now,” Novak said.

Representatives of 15 countries, including Iran, preliminary confirmed that they will participate in the oil meeting in Doha, the minister said.

“Qatar, which chairs OPEC this year, will send out invitations to all OPEC countries and non-OPEC oil exporting and producing states,” he said, adding that a final list of participants will be clear after official confirmations have been received.

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