VOL. XLV

No 1

7-January-2002

SAUDI ARABIA

Interview With Saudi Oil Minister

The following is the question-and-answer text of aninterview given by the Saudi Oil Minister, Ali al-Naimi, in Cairo on 28December to MEES and the Arabic-daily al-Hayat (MEES translationfrom the Arabic).

Q: What is the impact on themarkets of this latest decision to cut production by OPEC and non-OPEC producingstates?

A: The purpose of the decision isto stop, as much as possible, the building of high stocks that would...