Govt. questioning NIS sale?

A senior Russian official says he has information suggesting certain Serbian government officials are questioning the sale of NIS. Aleksandr Alekseyev, the former Russian ambassador to Serbia and the current director of the Fourth European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that such behavior was unacceptable. Govt. questioning NIS sale? He told Moscow daily Vremya Novosti that such moves could complicate implementation of a series of other issues linked to the energy agreement between Serbia and Russia, “and even more—it will put other investors on their guard.” The former ambassador said, however, that the Serbian political elite was still favorably disposed to the deal, adding that he was confident that the agreement would be ratified in September. Asked whether the problems over ratification would complicate economic and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries, Alekseyev replied that Moscow was prepared to resume full-scale cooperation with Serbia, “although, undoubtedly, we need to finish off everything that we’ve agreed.” “In 2007, our trade balance was more than USD 3bn, and this year there will be an increase of over 25 percent,” the former ambassador pointed out. As important examples of humanitarian cooperation, he cited the fact that the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations was removing mines left over in Serbia from the 1999 NATO bombing, as well as the humanitarian assistance offered to the Serbs in Kosovo. According to the energy deal signed between Serbia and Russia, 51 percent holding in NIS will be sold to Russian Gazprom for EUR 400mn, as well as a further EUR 500mn investment to modernize the company.

Govt. questioning NIS sale?

He told Moscow daily Vremya Novosti that such moves could complicate implementation of a series of other issues linked to the energy agreement between Serbia and Russia, “and even more—it will put other investors on their guard.”

The former ambassador said, however, that the Serbian political elite was still favorably disposed to the deal, adding that he was confident that the agreement would be ratified in September.

Asked whether the problems over ratification would complicate economic and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries, Alekseyev replied that Moscow was prepared to resume full-scale cooperation with Serbia, “although, undoubtedly, we need to finish off everything that we’ve agreed.”

“In 2007, our trade balance was more than USD 3bn, and this year there will be an increase of over 25 percent,” the former ambassador pointed out.

As important examples of humanitarian cooperation, he cited the fact that the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations was removing mines left over in Serbia from the 1999 NATO bombing, as well as the humanitarian assistance offered to the Serbs in Kosovo.

According to the energy deal signed between Serbia and Russia, 51 percent holding in NIS will be sold to Russian Gazprom for EUR 400mn, as well as a further EUR 500mn investment to modernize the company.