Cairo - Oil ministers of the Arab petroleum exporting organization OAPEC held a behind-closed-doors meeting Saturday in Cairo to discuss strategies to cope with declining prices.

The 81st OAPEC ministers session preceded consultations to be held with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

"These two meetings come at a decisive time for the Oil industry amid the decline of world oil prices," Egyptian Oil Minister Sameh Fahmy told reporters after the OAPEC meeting ended.

OAPEC has 11 members, seven of which also belong to OPEC. Fahmy said that in addition to those seven oil ministers, OPEC non-members Syria and Egypt would take part in the meeting with OPEC.

"Today's meetings will allow a full cooperation between the two organizations," he said.

Analysts expect OPEC to cut its output amid declining prices, but the decision would have to wait until the organisation's next meeting in Algeria on December 17. (dpa)