Al-Naimi hails Arab Forum for Environment and Development

Riyadh, Oct 26, SPA -- Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources
Eng. Ali al-Naimi has underlined the importance of the Arab Forum for
Environment and Development.


Speaking before the annual forum, currently in progress in Manama,
he said the Forum is important due to the Arab world owning more than
60 percent of the world petroleum reserves as well as 25 percent of
the world reserves of natural gas.


He noted that these reserves are expected to increase within the
next years through new discoveries and the modern technologies.

Al-Naimi pointed out that the economies of the Arab countries even
the non-petroleum producing countries are linked with petroleum and
gas.


In his speech delivered on his behalf by Dr Mohammed Sarour
al-Sabban, al-Naimi said petroleum notably the Arab petroleum faces a
strong attack from certain political powers in some major consuming
countries.


These attackers used to say that petroleum, notably the Arab
petroleum, is an insecure source for energy and so arrangements
should be taken to lessen dependence on it.


Al-Naimi underlined the importance of protecting the environment and
said without the protection of the environment no prosperity will
take place.


He pointed out to the importance of cooperation among developed and
developing countries in this respect.


--SPA