Qatar left OPEC partly for political reasons - ambassador
MOSCOW. Jan 4 (Interfax) - Qatar's decision to withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was prompted partly by the fact that some decisions by this association have been politically motivated, Qatari Ambassador to Russia Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiyah said.
"Probably our move out of OPEC was not completely on the consideration of whether we should focus on gas or oil - naturally we are a gas producer - but also because OPEC is in the process of becoming more of an instrument in the hands of few and not there to serve the interests of all," Al Attiyah said in an interview with Interfax.
"We believe that OPEC has served its role, and perhaps what my personal analysis is that it has been politicized as an organization in the sense that we cannot see why oil prices dropped all of a sudden. Again, I would not rule out the link between the oil price drop with the Khashoggi murder and the fact that the Saudis did that in order to win favors with the United States, especially with President Trump," Al Attiyah said.
"I think that may have raised eyebrows all around the world, as to you have now impacted not only the interests of your own people by denying them revenue that should have gone to the Saudi treasury, but it also impacted the interests of all the oil-producing countries, including Russia, by taking such a step in order to save yourself," he said.
The full text of the interview will appear at www.interfax.com.