Oil countries teams committees to meet in Caracas

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro: "Sooner than later, we will manage to raise the (oil) prices".

Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, upon his return to Venezuela, asserted that his 13-day tour across China, Russia, Portugal and Member States of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Algeria) "was fruitful and successful for the plans of economic rebirth of the country."

"As a result of the oil war, there has been an abrupt slump in crude oil prices," Maduro stated in his speech from Miraflores Presidential Palace in a mandatory radio and television broadcast. He explained that in September 2014, the Venezuelan oil basket stood at USD 96 per barrel, and that on Friday, "it hit USD 38.5 per barrel;" this "is a very important matter of concern for all of us."

"While those people (Venezuelan opposition) are making a party because of the fall of oil prices, I have been devoted to defend the Venezuelan oil, the oil market, and sooner that later we will manage to raise the (oil) prices," President Maduro said.

In addition, the President informed that this week, technical committees from OPEC and non-OPEC countries would meet in Caracas, Venezuela's capital. "Our Foreign Minister, Delcy Rodríguez, and the Minister of Petroleum and Mining, Asdrúbal Chávez, are still closing the tour in other non-OPEC countries, such as Kazakhstan and Kuwait, gathering consensus for a new stage in the market. The stockholders have changed; we need to acknowledge it and be prepared," Maduro remarked.

Source: http://www.eluniversal.com/

President Maduro: "I got the resources the country requires"

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro did not elaborate on the amount, the terms, or the specific investment areas. He added the information would be provided by the ministers

"I got the resources the country requires to keep its investment and import levels and economic stability," announced the Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, after his meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. 

The President referred to several agreements reached with Russia during his second visit to that country amid his presidential tour.

"We have agreed to expand investment and Russia's interest in the joint ventures of the Orinoco Oil Belt and other fields. We have decided to increase shareholding and investment in oil production," Maduro stated during a telephone interview with stat-run TV channel VTV.

He did not elaborate on the amount, the conditions, or the specific investment areas. He added the information would be provided by the ministers.

President Maduro commented that the US strategy was to overstock the oil market, by using techniques that cause environmental damage and seek to harm geopolitics, hitting the economies of Russia and Venezuela.

Source: http://www.eluniversal.com/

Venezuela urges Chile not to air opinions about internal affairs

Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Muñoz offered to mediate in government-opposition dialogue in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs rebutted the remarks made by Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Muñoz, who offered help to resume government-opposition dialogue in Venezuela.

"The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on Foreign Minister Heraldo Muñoz to refrain from expressing any views on Venezuela's internal affairs, and requires through his ambassador to Venezuela an explanation on the content and extent of his statements," the communiqué reads.

The Venezuelan government "has not requested through public or diplomatic means any intervention in its affairs," the statement added.

In a press conference on Monday, Heraldo Muñoz said he hoped for the resumption of political talks in Venezuela, suspended in May 2014.

Source: http://www.eluniversal.com/

Putin, Maduro to discuss oil prices on Wednesday

President Maduro's unannounced visit to Russia comes after his visit to Algeria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, against the backdrop of an international tour focused on the oil crisis

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will visit Russia once again on Wednesday and meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Top in their agenda are plummeting oil prices, the Kremlin reported.

"Vladimir Putin will meet with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (...) to talk about (....) the progress of bilateral cooperation, including the fulfillment of large bilateral projects in the energy, agriculture, and industrial areas," the Kremlin informed in a communiqué, AFP quoted.

President Maduro's unannounced visit to Russia comes after his visit to Algeria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, against the backdrop of an international tour focused on the oil crisis.

Maduro's international tour began on January 5, and has included a number of OPEC and non-OPEC countries, EFE reported.

The price of the Venezuelan oil basket hit USD 42.44 last week, while the price of the OPEC basket stands at USD 41.50.

Source: http://www.eluniversal.com/