Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said today that talks are underway with the US Office of Foreign Assets Control and Serbia will not participate in the seizure of Russian capital and the nationalization of Serbia's oil company NIS, although it has the right to do so, TANJUG reported, quoted by BTA.
Vučić announced on Friday that after the new US sanctions against the Russian oil sector, the Russian company Gazprom Neft will have 45 days to exit the ownership of NIS (Naftna industrija Srbije - NIS). The next day, Vučić requested an extension of the deadline for the implementation of the sanctions.
The majority stake in Serbia's oil company NIS is Russian. Gazprom Neft owns 50 percent of NIS, Gazprom - 6.15 percent, the Serbian government's share is 29.87 percent, and the rest is in the hands of small shareholders.
Vučić indicated today that he expects the arrival of Russian experts in Serbia.
„Important people come to Belgrade and we start consultations. We start serious talks. I told them that I don't care, find a solution. (…) You propose, and the only thing I want is for Serbia (…) to have enough oil and oil derivatives“, Vucic emphasized in the B92 TV studio.
He also commented on the statement of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that the US and the European Union want Serbia to betray Russia and that Serbia has no right to nationalize NIS. “At no point did I say that I would (nationalize NIS). Although Serbia has the right to do so“, he pointed out.
According to him, Serbia has already talked to the US.
“Tomorrow we will have additional talks with the Office for Foreign Assets Control. And I believe that we will receive more information“, said the Serbian president.