Iran, Russia, Qatar discuss gas cooperation

21 October 2008

Tehran-Iran, Qatar and Russian senior officials in energy field began their first tripartite meeting for gas cooperation on Tuesday.

The meeting is being attended by Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari, his Qatari counterpart Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah and senior executive director of Russia's Gazprom company.

The meeting aimed to develop trilateral cooperation, enhance level of economic and political ties and make efforts to rationalize natural gas price in global market.

Participants of the meeting focused on identifying mutual viewpoints and interests and potentials for cooperation of the three countries as well as drawing an outlook for their cooperation in the field of natural gas cooperation.

They also discussed ways to expand strategic cooperation among Iran, Qatar and Russia in regional and international markets and assist each other in the target markets in light of geopolitical and geographical considerations.

They studied ways to employ the existing infrastructures for production, transport and export of natural gas and sharing infrastructures with reasonable tariffs.

Investing in development of regional and international gas fields, producing and marketing for the natural gas was another major issue discussed by the Iranian, Russian and Qatari officials.

They also proposed to set up a center for financial affairs of the three nations cooperation in Doha, Qatar, a technical center in Tehran and a market survey center in Moscow, Russia.

The tripartite meeting also decided to form a joint cooperation committee for coordinating establishment of the three centers and their operation.

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