Goodwill Messages

On 14 September 2010, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) turned 50. Founded in Baghdad, Iraq, OPEC has been marking this milestone since the beginning of the year with a variety of special activities. The occasion has been marked by the receipt of goodwill messages from Member Countries and other parties in the industry.

The first of these messages was from HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar. In his letter to OPEC's Secretary General, HE Abdalla Salem El-Badri, the Minister congratulated OPEC on reaching this milestone. 

Full Text of the Goodwill Message by HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah

In addition, recent letters addressed to the Secretary General have included those from representatives of Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), BP, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the Wintershall Group.

SOMO's Executive Director General and Iraq's Governor for OPEC, Dr Falah J Alamri, extended his warmest congratulations and wishes of success and prosperity.

BP Group Vice President for Exploration and New Business Development Michael C Daly highlighted OPEC's importance to the industry as a whole, saying: "OPEC has contributed a huge amount of stability and learning to the global petroleum industry since its formation."

Similarly, BP CEO-Designate Robert Dudley wrote: "This is a significant milestone for the Organisation, and is testimony to the role it has played in contributing to the stability of oil markets for both producers and consumers the world over."

IRU Secretary General Martin Marmy noted: "OPEC's slogan 'Supporting Stability, Fuelling Prosperity' for its 50th Anniversary is wisely chosen, as it clearly shows that the Organisation's responsible policy decisions in the years ahead will continue to be aimed at creating harmony and stability in the international oil market for the benefit of the consumers and the global economy at large."