OPEC celebrates 60th anniversary in Baghdad

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) commemorated its Diamond Anniversary (60 years) in Baghdad, Iraq.

Iraq’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Al-Sudani, attended the ceremony, as did top Iraqi government officials and OPEC representatives. Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdulghani, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazroui, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Kamal Abbasov, and OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais were also present.

“Iraq is proud of hosting this historic celebration,” said Hayan Abdulghani, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil. “It is time for the Organization to celebrate all the accomplishments it has achieved throughout the last six decades and more.”

The ceremony was initially planned to take place in the Bab Al-Muaatham’s Al-Shaab Hall in September 2020, which is also the location of OPEC’s inception. But because of the COVID-19 epidemic and its effects on travel and health, it was repeatedly postponed.

“The celebration will provide the entire OPEC Family with an opportunity to reflect on our exceptional history and celebrate our success, as well as to renew our commitment to the key principles that have underpinned the Organization’s work since foundation,” said Haitham Al Ghais, OPEC Secretary General. “Remembering our past can serve as an inspiration for achieving a bright and successful future.”

The Iraqi government has refurbished the Al-Shaab Hall, the site where OPEC was established.

Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela were the group’s first five founding members, and they formally gathered in Baghdad between September 10 and 14 of 1960 to establish the organization. The meeting, which was held in Baghdad, was hosted by General Abdul Karim Qasim, the former Prime Minister of Iraq. Since then, 13 nations that produce oil have joined OPEC.

The early years of OPEC’s development were helped in large part by several important Iraqi officials. In order to represent Iraq at conferences, many representatives from Iraq traveled to the OPEC headquarters in Vienna (from 1965 to the present) and Geneva (1960 to 1965).

Iraqis who have made significant contributions to OPEC in the early years include Dr. Talaat Al-Shaibani (Founding Head of Delegation, 1960), Saleh Kubba (Founding Delegate, 1960; OPEC Conference President, 1966), Abdullah Ismail (Founding Delegate, 1960), Abdulrahman Al-Bazzaz (OPEC Secretary General, 1964-1965), Dr. Rashid Al-Rifai (OPEC Conference President, 1968), and Nadhim Al-Pachachi (OPEC Secretary General, 1971-1972).