ID :
182605
Tue, 05/17/2011 - 08:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/182605
The shortlink copeid
Ahmadinejad may assume OPEC presidency
TEHRAN, May 17 (MNA) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may take over OPEC presidency as he has temporarily taken the charge of the oil ministry after dismissing oil minister Masoud Mirkazemi.
"For now, I myself am the caretaker of the oil ministry," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech late Sunday.
Iran, the second largest exporter of crude in OPEC, currently holds the presidency of the organization.
OPEC prepares for a meeting on June 8 in Vienna.
Ahmadinejad may either personally chair the OPEC meeting or he may introduce a representative to the event, Mehr news agency quoted the oil ministry officials as saying.
Ahmadinejad last week merged the oil ministry with the energy ministry, industries and mines ministry with the commerce ministry, and the welfare ministry with the labor ministry in a move to cut the number of government departments to 17 from 21 and boost the administration's efficiency.
On Saturday, the president dismissed oil minister Masoud Mirkazemi, alongside two other ministers, whose portfolios are expected to be merged with other departments as part of a cabinet streamlining.
Then on Sunday, he appointed caretakers for the industry and social affairs ministries, but did not name anyone for the oil ministry which is to be integrated with the energy portfolio.
Mohammad-Ali Khatibi, Iran's representative to OPEC, told AFP on Monday that the president would be eligible to chair the meeting.
"As he is the caretaker of the ministry, he may attend the (ministerial) meeting," he said in a telephone interview.
"But it is not customary... the president usually takes part in summits," Khatibi said, adding he was "expecting" the president to appoint a representative for the upcoming meeting.
"For now, I myself am the caretaker of the oil ministry," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech late Sunday.
Iran, the second largest exporter of crude in OPEC, currently holds the presidency of the organization.
OPEC prepares for a meeting on June 8 in Vienna.
Ahmadinejad may either personally chair the OPEC meeting or he may introduce a representative to the event, Mehr news agency quoted the oil ministry officials as saying.
Ahmadinejad last week merged the oil ministry with the energy ministry, industries and mines ministry with the commerce ministry, and the welfare ministry with the labor ministry in a move to cut the number of government departments to 17 from 21 and boost the administration's efficiency.
On Saturday, the president dismissed oil minister Masoud Mirkazemi, alongside two other ministers, whose portfolios are expected to be merged with other departments as part of a cabinet streamlining.
Then on Sunday, he appointed caretakers for the industry and social affairs ministries, but did not name anyone for the oil ministry which is to be integrated with the energy portfolio.
Mohammad-Ali Khatibi, Iran's representative to OPEC, told AFP on Monday that the president would be eligible to chair the meeting.
"As he is the caretaker of the ministry, he may attend the (ministerial) meeting," he said in a telephone interview.
"But it is not customary... the president usually takes part in summits," Khatibi said, adding he was "expecting" the president to appoint a representative for the upcoming meeting.
