1.
GV Palace frontage
0.08

2.
GV Delegates arriving (3 shots)
0.23

3.
LV Major Mabrouk with delegates into building
0.30

4.
GV & SV INTERIOR - Chairman Oteiba (Abu Dhabi)
0.38

5.
LV Delegates (7 shots)
0.58

6.
GV Delegates leaving
1.02

7.
SV Major Mabrouk leaves with Sheihk Yamani
1.09



Initials OS/2354 OS/004



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) held an urgent meeting in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (9 December) to discuss the terms and conditions of its membership. Unlike the larger OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) which had held a two-day conference in Abu Dhabi earlier in the week, OAPEC is less concerned with pricing than with Arab-financed development schemes such as tanker fleets, petro-chemical industries, dry docks for super-tankers, and the establishment of an Arab oil marketing board. Their last meeting, in Kuwait, was abandoned after a dispute between Libya and Saudi Arabia over the possible admission of Iraq. Thursday's meeting agreed on broader terms of entry, and the organisation will re-convene in Geneva late in January to approve Iraqi entry, and consider applications from Syria and Egypt.

SYNOPSIS: At the Al Khubaria Palace in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, members of the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries met to discuss the terms of their membership. At their last meeting in Kuwait a dispute had arisen between Libya and Saudi Arabia over the proposed membership of Iraq....the meeting had to be abandoned.

Libya's Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, Major Izzidin al Mabrouk, arrives. Earlier in the week he had nationalised British Petroleum's holdings in Libya. Thursday's meeting was chaired by Mr. Sayyed Manna al Oteiba, Abu Dhabi's Minister of Oil and Industry. Unlike the larger but similar Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries....which also conferred in Abu Dhabi during the week....OAPEC is less concerned with pricing, and concentrates on Arab-financed development schemes such as dry-docks, tanker fleets, new petro-chemical industries and the establishment of an Arab oil marketing board. It will reconvene in Geneva in January to approve Iraqi entry, and consider applications from Syria and Egypt.