Dusan Bajatovic (BETAPHOTO/Dragan Gojic)
Srbijagas company CEO Dusan Bajatovic has told public broadcaster RTS that the sanctions imposed by the U.S. against oil company Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) over the majority Russian ownership of the company are political but that, given their postponement until March 28, Serbia will have to offer an action plan coordinated with Russia.
"During this month, we must be more efficient, which some may not like because these are political sanctions. The issue cannot be resolved without the Russians. The story, in my opinion, will go like this - we will have to offer an action plan, coordinated with Russian policy. Without coordination with Russia, there is no solution," said Bajatovic.
He also said that Serbia could import oil derivatives and that the authorities could control their prices, but that it was still important that it had a producer and processing of derivatives in the country.
"There will be no shortages, that goes for both the population and businesses. The authorities have expressed a readiness to buy a stake in NIS, if there is no demand for the Russians to withdraw from ownership 100 percent, but nationalization of the company will not happen, and I rule out bankruptcy proceedings," said the Srbijagas CEO.
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