�TEHRAN Nov. 21 (Shana) -- Iraqi Oil Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi called on other member countries of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to preserve their unity in order for oil prices to recover.

"OPEC countries must make the best decision through cooperation with each other and proper assessment of the oil market status," said the Iraqi official, on the sidelines of a gas conference in Tehran.

"Each OPEC member has its own views but the unity of the members within the organization must be preserved," said Abdul Mahdi.

The Iraqi oil minister was attending the Tehran ministerial meeting of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) on Saturday.
"We are formulating some decisive measures to recover oil prices," he said.

"Global oil markets are bearish these days and the market is awash with surplus oil supplies, reducing the prices," he said.

"We hope the prices will increase in the beginning months of 2016 and we shall wait and see what OPEC members will agree upon in the December meeting," he added.

The GECF ministerial meeting is being held to prepare the draft declaration of the 3rd GECF Summit Meeting to have it conveyed to the upcoming COP 21 conference in Paris.

By SHANA