Venezuela rejects Iraqi presence at OPEC meeting, suggest informal talks

by The Associated Press

Venezuela, which opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq, won’t recognize Iraq’s delegation to an Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting July 31, the oil minister said July 25.

Rafael Ramirez said no Iraqi official would be allowed to attend any OPEC meeting until an “internationally recognized” government is in place.

“They can’t attend the OPEC meeting,” he said. “Perhaps some Arab states might meet with them informally.”

Venezuela is the world’s No. 5 oil producer. President Hugo Chavez’s government condemned the U.S. invasion against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

“There will be no official contact between Venezuela and Iraq,” Ramirez said.

Representatives from OPEC nations were to discuss global oil markets at the Vienna meeting and consider possible adjustments to current production levels of 25.4 million barrels per day. Ramirez said that world oil supply and demand are balanced. “We are in equilibrium,” he said.