The Government of Algeria, the Government of Bolivia, the Government of Egypt, the Government of Equatorial Guinea, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Government of Libya, the Government of Nigeria, the Government of Qatar, the Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (hereafter referred to as the Parties),
Have agreed as follows:

Article (1)
The Parties decide to restructure the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (hereinafter referred to as "the Forum") according to the attached Statute.
The Forum shall have international legal status. It shall have such legal capacity as necessary to exercise its functions and to achieve its purposes.

Article (2)
The Statute of the Forum is approved by this Agreement and shall be annexed to this Agreement and constitute an integral part thereof

Article (3)
The Host Country of the Forum is Qatar. The Host Country and the Forum shall conclude a Headquarters Agreement.

Article (4)
1. This Agreement is subject to acceptance, approval or ratification by the Parties in accordance with their respective laws.
2. This Agreement is open for accession of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Norway, Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates as from the date of signature.
3. After its entry into force this Agreement shall be open for accession for states not mentioned in paragraph 2 of this Article in accordance with the Statute of the Forum.
4. Instruments of acceptance, approval, ratification or accession shall be deposited with the Government of the Russian Federation who shall serve as Depositary of this Agreement until the respective functions are transmitted to the Secretary General of the Forum.

Article (5)
1. This Agreement shall enter into force thirty days after the deposit of five instruments of acceptance, approval or ratification by the Parties.
2. For states acceding to this Agreement in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 4 this Agreement enters into force in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article depending on which date occurs later.
3. For states acceding to this Agreement in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 4 this Agreement enters into force thirty days after the deposit of their instruments of accession.

Article (6)
Each Party may withdraw from this Agreement by submitting a written notification in accordance with Article 7 of the Statute of the Forum.
Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, this Agreement shall continue to apply, as if no such withdrawal had been made, in respect of all rights and obligations arising prior to the effective date of any such withdrawal.

Article (7)
Any differences that can arise among the Parties regarding the interpretation and application of the provisions of the Agreement shall be settled through direct negotiations between the Parties.

Article (8)
The Agreement shall be registered by the Depositary with the Secretariat of the United Nations in accordance with article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.
Done at Moscow on December 23, 2008 in eleven originals in the English language, one to be retained by each Party.

For the Government of Algeria
For the Government of Bolivia
For the Government of Egypt
For the Government of Equatorial Guinea
For the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran
For the Government of Libya
For the Government of Nigeria
For the Government of Qatar
For the Government of the Russian Federation
For the Government of Trinidad and Tobago
For the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela