Serbia’s NIS dilemma: Vucic pushes for final decision within a week

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has urged the government to exhaust every possible option before taking a final decision on the future of the country’s oil and gas company NIS (Naftna Industrija Srbije), stressing that the matter must be resolved within the next seven days.

Speaking at an emergency cabinet session on Saturday, Vucic said no immediate decision would be made at the meeting, but warned that time for deliberation is almost over, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

“There is no decision today. But we can make a decision tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or the day after that. By next week we are obliged to finally reach a decision,” he stated.

The president confirmed Serbia’s readiness to continue contacts with the Russian side, which holds the majority stake in NIS. Vucic also suggested that Belgrade could put forward its own offer if Moscow fails to agree on a price with a third party. “If the Russians do not reach an agreement on price with the third party, my proposal is to consider offering a better price ourselves,” he said.

Vucic underscored that Belgrade aims to avoid any drastic steps. “I want to avoid confiscation, nationalisation, and seizure of property at all costs. I want the whole world to see that we do not wish to take anything from anyone,” he said.

According to the president, Serbia will consider further measures only after all diplomatic and economic avenues have been exhausted. “This is not our majority stake, it is the Russian majority stake, and they have the right to make decisions — but we also have the right to live. That is why I want to exhaust every option before any process begins, whether it is assuming management or something else,” he noted.

An emergency government session was held on 16 November with the participation of President Vucic, Speaker of the National Assembly Ana Brnabic, and the heads of all key state enterprises.

By Khagan Isayev