Russian Energy Minister: Shipment of Russian Oil to US Is Encouraging Experiment

The beginning of shipments of Russian oil to the US is an encouraging experiment, although one currently fraught with many difficulties. According to the press service of the Russian Energy Ministry, Igor Yusufov, the Energy Minister, made this announcement on Wednesday during a meeting with US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. The Russian minister believes that these shipments should be increased.

During the meeting, the ministers gave a positive evaluation of the activity of the Russian-American working group on coordinating cooperation in the energy sector. Both parties agreed that one of the aims of their work should be to prepare for the forthcoming Russian-American energy summit, which will take place in Houston in October.

Participants in the meeting included senior officials from the Russian Energy Ministry, US Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow, and representatives of the US Energy Ministry. The meeting was the third between the heads of the two countries' energy ministries. The first took place in Moscow on November 28, 2001; the second was held in Detroit on May 2, 2002, during a G8 summit meeting of energy ministers.