This is our place! OPEC Refuses to Invite US Media Conference | Institutions | Localities
According to Agence France Presse, Bloomberg News Agency stated that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has once again refused to issue interview permits to journalists from three financial news agencies, which will be unable to cover the organization's upcoming meeting in Vienna next week.
The three news organizations prohibited from covering OPEC meetings are Bloomberg News, Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal.
According to reports, similar measures were taken during a meeting between 13 OPEC member states and 10 non OPEC member states led by Russia in June, when OPEC withdrew some news agency's interview permits.
A statement from Bloomberg News stated, "We are very concerned that OPEC does not allow certain journalists, including Bloomberg News reporters, to interview next week's meeting."
The statement also said, "In order to ensure market transparency, we strongly advocate for OPEC to allow relevant global news agencies to interview the conference."
▲ OPEC headquarters located in Vienna
According to reports, Reuters reported that it was also affected by the OPEC interview ban. A source said that The Wall Street Journal also did not receive an interview invitation.
According to reports, the meeting to be held from July 5th to 6th at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna will receive speeches from some important figures, including Saudi Energy Minister Abdul Aziz bin Salman, BP CEO Bernard Luni, and European Commission member Cadre Simson in charge of energy.
The report pointed out that OPEC Secretary General Hesse Gates stated in June about the organization's "one matter, one discussion" policy in inviting media, "This is our place, and we have decided to implement our media strategy in this way."
According to Reuters, OPEC has sent an email inviting journalists from other news organizations, including the Financial Times, industry media Argus, and Platts Energy Information, to cover the July 5-6 meeting.