Serbia gives Russians 50 days to find new owner for NIS - Otherwise, state administration to be introduced

At yesterday’s session, the Serbian government unanimously adopted the proposal of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to give the Russian side 50 days to find a new owner for NIS. If that does not happen, Serbia will, after that deadline, introduce its own administration into NIS and offer the Russians the highest possible price for the company, Vucic said during an extraordinary address.

Vucic pointed out that several ministers had proposed that Serbia immediately nationalize NIS, but that his proposal had been different and ultimately adopted unanimously by the government.

- We are ready to suffer all the consequences for the next 50 days. We are ready to endure that the Refinery does not work for us, that nothing works for us, because we will manage and ensure sufficient supply to the market. But after 50 days, if a purchase agreement is not created, we have no choice, and even then we will not nationalize immediately, but will introduce our own administration and then we will offer the highest possible price and pay the highest possible price to our Russian friends - Vucic emphasized at the conference.

He once again pointed out that “we are neither communists nor fascists,” and that he thought that, all things considered, three months was more than enough to complete the negotiations on the change of ownership in NIS, because we “cannot survive any longer.”

Vucic emphasized that he had also conveyed this position in the letter he had sent to OFAC, expressing hope that the Americans would extend the operating license to NIS.

Vucic also said that the problems with NIS could bring the entire state apparatus to a standstill, including the ambulance service.