Russians urge gas deal ratification

Russia's Gazprom insist on a speedy ratification of an energy agreement with Serbia, reports say. This emerged from a meeting Saturday the representatives of the natural gas and oil giant held with Serbian officials in St. Petersburg. Russians urge gas deal ratification On Jan. 25, then Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic, as well as Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, signed the deal that envisages construction of a part of the South Stream pipeline through Serbia, and the sale of oil monopoly NIS to the Russians. But as the ruling coalition collapsed shortly after, the parties in the government and parliament in Belgrade could not agree to ratify the agreement. Yesterday, Trade and Services Minister Predrag Bubalo, DSS, said that the meeting with Gazprom agreed to have "some activities run in parallel while awaiting the ratification, and that first and foremost pertains to determining the conditions of a future contract". The Russian delegation was led by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller. Bubalo said that the meeting also looked at the company's acquisition of capital in other Serbian companies whose production is based on Russian gas or is linked to the refineries, such as Pancevo's Azotara and Petrohemija. Another meeting on the sidelines of an international economic forum in St. Petersburg was with Aeroflot General Director Valery Okulov. "They [Aeroflot] are all set when it comes to the privatization and tender for Jat [Airways]. They are awaiting the tender now, and are clear on what their plans are," the minister said of the Russians' interest in buying Serbia's national carrier. According to Bubalo, Okulov said that Aeroflot wishes to make "a regional leader out of Jat". Another meeting was with Russia's wealthiest man, Basic Element owner Oleg Deripaska, where the recent failed RTB Bor copper mines and smelter privatization was discussed. But looking ahead, Bubalo said, the Serbian delegation talked about Deripaska's "plans to invest in the Serbian energy sector". Deputy premier in the caretaker government, Bozidar Djelic, DS, also attended the discussions yesterday. There is a wide consensus in Serbia on the need to ratify the energy deal with Russia, he said after the meeting with Miller. "I think that the next most important step is to ratify the energy agreement as soon as possible," Djelic told Tanjug and RTS reporters in St. Petersburg. Djelic said that an additional topic of the meeting was the construction of the Banatski Dvor underground gas storage facility, "where the current efforts of Srbijagas and NIS were supported". "At the same time, we informed them that a new tender for one million tons of crude oil will be called by the end of June and I am sure that Gazpromneft will take part," Djelic said. Serbian, Gazprom delegations meet (Tanjug)

Russians urge gas deal ratification

On Jan. 25, then Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadić, as well as Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, signed the deal that envisages construction of a part of the South Stream pipeline through Serbia, and the sale of oil monopoly NIS to the Russians.

But as the ruling coalition collapsed shortly after, the parties in the government and parliament in Belgrade could not agree to ratify the agreement.

Yesterday, Trade and Services Minister Predrag Bubalo, DSS, said that the meeting with Gazprom agreed to have "some activities run in parallel while awaiting the ratification, and that first and foremost pertains to determining the conditions of a future contract".

The Russian delegation was led by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller. Bubalo said that the meeting also looked at the company's acquisition of capital in other Serbian companies whose production is based on Russian gas or is linked to the refineries, such as Pančevo's Azotara and Petrohemija.

Another meeting on the sidelines of an international economic forum in St. Petersburg was with Aeroflot General Director Valery Okulov.

"They [Aeroflot] are all set when it comes to the privatization and tender for Jat [Airways]. They are awaiting the tender now, and are clear on what their plans are," the minister said of the Russians' interest in buying Serbia's national carrier.

According to Bubalo, Okulov said that Aeroflot wishes to make "a regional leader out of Jat".

Another meeting was with Russia's wealthiest man, Basic Element owner Oleg Deripaska, where the recent failed RTB Bor copper mines and smelter privatization was discussed.

But looking ahead, Bubalo said, the Serbian delegation talked about Deripaska's "plans to invest in the Serbian energy sector".

Deputy premier in the caretaker government, Božidar Đelić, DS, also attended the discussions yesterday.

There is a wide consensus in Serbia on the need to ratify the energy deal with Russia, he said after the meeting with Miller.

"I think that the next most important step is to ratify the energy agreement as soon as possible," Đelić told Tanjug and RTS reporters in St. Petersburg.

Đelić said that an additional topic of the meeting was the construction of the Banatski Dvor underground gas storage facility, "where the current efforts of Srbijagas and NIS were supported".

"At the same time, we informed them that a new tender for one million tons of crude oil will be called by the end of June and I am sure that Gazpromneft will take part," Đelić said.