Aleksandar Vulin announces: Serbia and Russia will sign...

Photo: Shutterstock

President of the Supervisory Board of Srbijagas (Serbian public natural gas enterprise) Aleksandar Vulin said today that he expects the signing of a long-term gas arrangement between Serbia and Russia, as well as that the issue concerning Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS) will be solved soon.

Recommended

"Rest assured that everything will be fine when it comes to energy, after all, a long-term gas supply arrangement with the Russian Federation will be signed. Russia certainly met us halfway and said - let's get through this winter, there is time for everything," Vulin told Tanjug.

He pointed out that until now Russia has been a reliable, predictable and very fair partner when it comes to energy supplies.

"We have always had sufficient quantities of gas, even over the agreed amount, whenever we needed it and at prices that can only be compared with the prices Russia charges Belarus," Vulin said.

According to him, Serbia will continue its policy, and noted that he is not a supporter of being tied to a single supplier.

"The European Union is demanding that we diversify. When they say that, they mean, cut out Russia. They tell us not to be dependent on Russia, but to instead be dependent on them. That's fine and that's acceptable? Well, it's not. Serbia must preserve its independent policy," Vulin stressed.

Speaking about the current situation surrounding NIS (which is under US sanctions) Vulin said that everything will be done in agreement with the Russians.

"NIS is not worth us quarreling and for our relations with the Russian Federation to reach such a level, that we could say we are in conflict. We often go back to 1999, then say - the Russians didn't protect us, and it doesn't matter that they (NATO) bombed us, is that normal? It's the same now. Well Russia didn't impose sanctions against NIS or ask us to impose sanctions against the US," Vulin stressed.

He noted that the Americans want Serbia to drive out legitimate Russian owners from NIS.

"The European Union is demanding that we ban Russia from selling gas to us at most favorable prices, but we are to supposed to be mad at the Russians. So why would we? And what, excuse me, are they to blame for, in this story?," asked Vulin.

He assessed that a solution for NIS is in sight and pointed out that it is quite certain that the ownership structure of that company is changing.

"I see a way out of this situation in a very short amount of time. After all, the president (Vucic) has set very clear deadlines, that a solution must be reached very soon, where we will preserve our relations with the Russian Federation, but also continue with organizing our market. Obviously, there will be a change of ownership, but Serbia decides in when it comes to its stake (in NIS)," Vulin told Tanjug.

Serbia, he added, cannot allow others to make decisions on its behalf.

"If we were to steal NIS, it would mean that others are deciding for us. What will we do if the same power orders us to steal the Linglong factory or to shut down Zijin? What if they say we must nationalize all Chinese investments? That's why we must show, on the example of NIS, that we are a country that does not take part in theft. That we are a country that will not hijack (assets) and obey others in order to clash with its traditional, only permanent and predictable historical ally that is Russia," Vulin concluded.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)