OREANDA-NEWS. November 11, 2010. Ukraine wants to become an observer country in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov said to reporters in Vienna.

"During a meeting with Secretary General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Abdullah Salem El-Badri, I raised the issue of granting Ukraine the status of observer countries in OPEC" - Mykola Azarov said. He said that El-Badri has promised to bring this proposal to the OPEC leadership.

This initiative of the Ukrainian Head of the Government explained that Ukraine, in addition to producing its own oil, is a potent transporter of this raw material. He recalled the recently signed agreement on transit of Venezuelan oil to Belarus and on negotiations with Azerbaijan to supply Caspian oil to Ukraine.

"Ukraine should be aware of the global policy on oil exports, pricing policies and the potential risks associated with this market" - Mykola Azarov said.

He also said that the issue of Ukraine's observer status in OPEC would be raised during his visit to Libya, which also is the member of this organization.

PM's Visit to the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is expected shortly. The meeting of Mykola Azarov and Secretary General of OPEC was held today in frame of the working visit of Ukrainian Prime Minister to Vienna.