Vucic: MOL did not want the Pancevo refinery, we included it in the agreement

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, commenting on the objections to the entry of the Hungarian company MOL as the majority owner of Naftna industrija Srbije (NIS), stated that the Pancevo Refinery had been included in the agreement because of the Serbian side.

Vucic asked whether the people who criticized that decision “know how much effort and work Serbia has invested to guarantee the continued operation of the Pancevo Refinery.”

– Did you know that some people did not want to accept that right away? It makes sense, they have refineries in Bratislava and Budapest, but we included it in the agreement between Serbia and MOL, and the Refinery must operate – he stated.

He also asked what the alternative was for MOL’s entry into NIS and what the other option was.

– What were we supposed to do, enter into conflict with Russia? To destroy the traditional partnership that we have nurtured and protected for hundreds of years, with all the problems, ups and downs. To destroy everything that we have built for four years, without imposing sanctions on Russia? To take away their property, and then tell them whatever comes to our mind – Vucic asked.

Vucic also stated that Serbia could not get everything it wanted, adding that it had wanted to be the majority owner in NIS, but that it had not succeeded.

– Now you are shifting the blame to us, and under American sanctions we have maintained full stability, we have respected Russian property rights and their wishes, we will manage to increase the percentage of Serbian ownership – he stated.

Asked about the request sent to the American OFAC and when their response could be expected, Vucic said that he believed that a preliminary agreement between the Russian and Hungarian sides was enough for the Americans to loosen things.

– All the main elements of the contract are contained there, there are no secrets. What they asked of us regarding different options, which I would not like to talk about, we respected to the end, we did everything as requested. I do not see any obstacle, I do not see any hindrance on the way for the operating license to be extended until the final signing of the contract – Vucic said.

NIS a.d. Novi Sad

NIS a.d. Petrol Rafinerija nafte Pančevo

Naftna industrija Srbije ad Novi Sad

Pančevo Oil Refinery

MOL

Aleksandar Vučić

sale of NIS