Iraqi initiative, the Organization was then inaugurated in Baghdad. At first, OPEC comprised Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, and Venezuela only. Mr. Kubba became Iraq’s first delegate to OPEC and represented Iraq numerous times between 1960-1966. After 1960, he attended OPEC meetings in Switzerland (OPEC HQ between 1961-1965) and Vienna (OPEC HQ 1965–present) while representing Iraq. In 1966, Mr. Kubba was OPEC conference president, being the first official conference president from Iraq. Kubba was appointed Minister of Finance in February 1963 Kubba returned to government service in 1964 as Chairman of the Board at the National Oil Company, the first Iraqi company in this field. Despite the salary sacrifice caused by leaving the private sector, he exerted diligent efforts in this position, as was his custom. Between 1965-1969, Mr. Kubba was appointed Governor of the Central Bank. He represented Iraq in meetings with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He was chosen as a member of the fundraising committee for the University of Kufa project. He raised a significant amount of money donated by businessmen and merchants because of their trust in Saleh Kubba. Post-1969 Kubba was acquitted from his position in 1969 and was compelled to emigrate from Iraq and settled abroad. He took advisory positions with several private companies. Saleh Kubba was persecuted by the former regime from mid-1969 and sentenced to death in absentia. He had to bear forced exile. Death Kubba passed away two years after witnessing the former Iraqi regime's end. He died on March 10, 2005, and was interred in the family cemetery in Najaf. The family held traditional condolence receptions in Baghdad, . Large numbers of people attended these gatherings. References 1911 births 2005 deaths