Unity can protect gas exporters against West threats: Analyst

Press TV has conducted an interview with Mike Harris, financial editor at the Veterans Today from Phoenix, to get his take on the significance of holding a conference of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Iran.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: 50 years ago OPEC was created in order to stabilize oil prices. Now we have the GECF [Gas Exporting Countries Forum] summit, which these countries account for 70 percent of world gas reserves. What is the economic significance of Monday’s meeting at this time?

Harris: I think the economic significance is that gas is going to be used more and more energy source, is going to be a greater market force, it’s scale grows, it’s low cost, it’s easy to produce, easy to ship, this is a real economic opportunity for all of the countries involved.

Now, my one word of concern and caution is that you have the Western oil companies behaving badly in Syria currently. And it’s become pretty evident that the Western oil companies are who is providing the financial and material support for the terrorists there.

It’s become obvious that Western oil companies are upon their arrivals in this. And so, I look to the gas producing countries here as banding together, getting some strength and they should make some agreements to defend each other in the event that they too are attacked as Syria has been attacked.

Press TV: Why do you think the European Union has not welcomed the idea of this summit?

Harris: Oh, because the European Union wants to be in control. European Union doesn’t want to see consolidation of pricing structures or anything that is going to benefit the producers of the natural resources themselves.

The Europeans want to get gas as cheaply as possible. This brings up the whole issue of pipelines that are coming in and the Russian pipeline as it supplies the most of Europe right now.

The Europeans right now are feeling very vulnerable to their access to oil and gas.

Press TV: And we know that the presidents of Russia and Venezuela are both present at Tehran summit. What sort of political message, do you think, the meeting can actually give?

Harris: Oh, I think that the message has to be given laud and clear. I take my heed of to President Vladimir Putin. I’m imminent admirer of his and his skill for foreign policy, what he has done to upset the balance of the Western profit machine going to the Middle East and asset stripping and everything.

Putin has done a great job. And I really think that this is an opportunity for these countries as I said to make political agreements with each other to defend each other in the event they too are attacked, as Syria has been attacked, as Libya has been attacked, as Iraq has been attacked and destroyed by Western powers and Western interest.

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