EXHIBIT 5.1

                                                  May 6, 1999


American International Petroleum Corporation
444 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022

Gentlemen:

We are counsel to American International Petroleum Corporation, a Nevada
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the filing by the Company with
the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), of a registration statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") relating to 750,000 shares (the "Shares") of the
Company's common stock, par value $.08 per share (the "Common Stock"). The
Shares may be issued to Maxim Tolokonnikov, a consultant, pursuant to a 
Consultancy Agreement dated May 20, 1999.

We have examined such corporate documents and records and we have made such
investigations of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate in order to
render the opinions hereinafter set forth.

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

                   1. The Company has been duly organized, is validly existing
                   and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada.

                   2. The Shares have been duly authorized, and when issued in
                   consideration for the services contemplated by the
                   Consultancy Agreement, will be legally issued, fully paid and
                   non-assessable.

Our firm owns 268,212 shares of Common Stock, and an investment nominee of our
firm owns 225,905 shares of Common Stock.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference in the Registration Statement to
this firm under Item 5 captioned "Interests of Named Experts and Counsel." In 
giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of 
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the 
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                                  Very truly yours,

                                                  /s/ Snow Becker Krauss P.C.
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                  SNOW BECKER KRAUSS P.C.