During the OPEC heads of state meeting, the organization expressed support for the fight against global warming and maintaining stable oil prices. However, only Saudi Arabia has promised to contribute $300 million for climate change research. Other leaders have not made any similar commitments, with Algerian Energy and Mines Minister Chakib Khelil stating that they are not committing anything until they have more information about the proposal. OPEC Secretary-General Abdullah al-Badri stated that OPEC is willing to contribute to the development of carbon capture and storage technology to help reduce emissions. A draft final communique read by an OPEC delegate over the telephone mentioned the group's concern about climate change as a long-term challenge and their goal of maintaining stability in global energy markets, but did not reference an environmental fund. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expressed his expectation that the summit would confirm a commitment to stable and competitive oil prices. He also cautioned that if the United States were to attack Iran or Venezuela, crude oil prices, currently around $100 per barrel, could potentially double on the global market. Chavez made these remarks to heads of state, including Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, during a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Concerns that the United States or its ally Israel may launch an attack on Iran, which is accused by Washington of secretly trying to build nuclear weapons, have contributed to the surge in global oil prices. Despite calls from consumer nations for OPEC to increase crude supply, a decision on this matter will not be made until a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 5. Iran and Venezuela are viewed as supporters of high oil prices, while Saudi Arabia has typically been more willing to listen to Western requests to lower prices. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa suggested at the conference that oil should be priced in a currency other than the dollar. The decline in the value of the U.S. currency compared to other major currencies has contributed to the rise in oil prices to $98.62 last week, but has also diminished the purchasing power of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). During the summit, Saudi Arabia led the group in rejecting a proposal by Iran and Venezuela to address concerns about the weakening dollar in the official statement. Analysts believe that Saudi King Abdullah, a key U.S. ally and influential figure within OPEC, is determined to prevent Chavez and Ahmadinejad from overshadowing the summit with anti-U.S. rhetoric. Despite sitting through Chavez's lengthy speech on Saturday, the elderly leader later joked with the Venezuelan president about the length of his speech. In a lavish setting, Chavez called on OPEC to take a leading role in fighting global poverty. Ahmadinejad stated that OPEC should play a more active role in geopolitics and demand respect for its member countries, while also calling on powerful nations to cease threatening the organization. He mentioned that he would share his views at the end of the summit. Saudi Arabia recently suggested creating a consortium to supply Iran with enriched uranium for peaceful purposes in an attempt to ease tensions between Iran and the US. Despite this offer, Iran has stated that it will continue its own enrichment program. Concerned about Iran's potential nuclear capabilities, Gulf Arab countries, including OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, have announced plans to begin their own nuclear energy programs.