KAZAKHSTAN, AZERBAIJAN LIKELY TO BECOME OPEC OBSERVERS








VIENNA, March 10, 2001. /from RIA Novosti correspondent Borislav Pechnikov/--The RIA Novosti correspondent has quoted OPEC Secretary General Ali Rodriguez Araque as telling the press that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the world's oil cartel, was ready both to accept new members and to give any country the status of an OPEC observer.


	According to the OPEC Secretary General, besides Russia, Mexico, Oman and Angola, OPEC would also like to give an observer's status to Kazakhstan, the world's largest potential oil extractor. Ali Rodriguez noted that if Astana addressed OPEC with such a request all the 11 members of this organisation would undoubtedly vote for.


	The OPEC Secretary General added that Azerbaijan could likely become an OPEC observer, too.