Russia is confident the role of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, or GECF, will increase in the future, the country's Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said Tuesday.
"The current situation in the world gas market is no participant can go their own way," Shmatko told delegates at a GECF meeting in Doha.
Shmatko said productive cooperation between GECF members, which include the world's top three gas reserve holders Russia, Iran and Qatar, will benefit the markets.
"We will solve the issues and the role of our organization will only increase in ensuring policies in gas markets," he added.
Iran is so far the only country to have proposed a candidate for the role to head the GECF, having submitted the CV of National Iranian Oil Co. executive Hojatollah Ghanimifard.
GECF members will today decide on whether the secretary general post will go to Iran or whether to extend the application deadline for other candidate nominations.
Russia also has a candidate for the position, Shmatko said, declining to provide further details.
Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Norway, Venezuela, the United Arab Emirates and Trinidad and Tobago are also attending the meeting in Doha, Qatar's capital.