Premier Meets Russia's Major Petroleum Companies Executives

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov has held conference, at the Russian White House, with the executives of the country's 11 major petroleum companies discussing latest development in the petroleum markets and possible stabilization measures, according to the governmental information board. The premier held a similar conference on November 23, 2001 which brought forth a decision to cut Russian petroleum exports by a daily 50,000 barrels in the fourth quarter year. Today, the conferees are expected to discuss the government and petroleum companies' action in the first quarter of 2002 and second quarter prospects.