"Serbia received a clear message from the United States that in the next three months the Russian ownership of Oil Industries of Serbia (NIS). I am ready to resign, because without the refinery we have no life, she said at the session on Sunday Government of Serbia Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović.
We have three months for that transaction to be completed and for the US government to approve it, she said.
Photo: Ana Paunković/TanjugDubravka Đedović Handanović
She emphasized that for 37 days Serbia did not receive a single drop of oil from the Adriatic Pipeline (JANAF), and that the citizens "did not feel it thanks to good preparation".
"I am asking you for decisions on a daily basis, our reserves are preserved, but I am ready to resign, because I do not see a way in which we can overcome the situation because without the Refinery in Pancevo we have no life," said Dubravka Đedović Handanović.
Finance Minister Siniša Mali warned that the situation with NIS threatens the perspective and arrival of investors.
"We have to think about ourselves, but this scenario endangers everything. You have been doing everything for the last few months as our friends from Russia they said, they negotiate, they talk and nothing comes of it, we supported them in every step in order to solve the sanctions. I know you have moral considerations, but we have to think about ourselves now," Mali emphasized, Mali said.
Opposition on NIS and Vučić: Fear of Putin stronger than national interest
President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić he stated that the decision on the NIS must be made within the next seven days, repeating that he "does not want to steal anyone's property" and that he is ready to "go to a special solution" that was agreed upon with the governor of the National Bank of Serbia, Jorgovanka Tabaković, and relevant ministers.
Photo: Ana Paunković/TanjugAleksandar Vučić
"The condition is to accept talks on ownership. We will accept to sign the letter that the Russians and their Asian and European partners will send to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)," said Vučić and pointed out that Serbia is ready to offer a price for NIS.
"If there is no other solution, we will find the money, we will talk to the Europeans and the special operation we talked about with Jorgovanka Tabaković. We will inform the citizens, because I want to avoid confiscation. We don't want to rob anyone of anything," emphasized Vučić.
