OREANDA-NEWS. OPEC Secretary General, HE Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, met the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Austria and the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations and International Organizations in Vienna, HE Mikhail Ulyanov, on 6 April 2018, at the OPEC headquarters in Vienna. They discussed a number of issues including the current oil market situation, the landmark `Declaration of Cooperation` and the evolution of the relationship between OPEC and the Russian Federation.

HE Barkindo spoke about the significance of the Russian Federation in the 'Declaration of Cooperation', having been a key architect in its formation and its success over the past 15 months. He also noted the important role played by HE Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, who has co-chaired the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee since it was formed at the beginning of 2017.

HE Ulyanov commented on the success of the `Declaration of Cooperation` in helping return balance and stability to the oil market, as well as the ongoing process to further institutionalise the cooperation in the longer term. He also offered his thanks to HE Barkindo for hosting him at the OPEC Secretariat and spoke about his close relationship with his predecessor, HE Vladimir Voronkov, with whom he remains in close contact.