Russian interest in Serbian industry unrelated to Kosovo

Russia’s interest in energy sector is not tied to its support of Serbia’s Kosovo stance, officials say. The Mining and Energy Minister Aleksandar Popovic said that "not only Russia, but all other interested countries and companies" are welcome to participate in the tender for the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS), and that Russia’s support of Serbia’s Kosovo stance within the United Nations Security Council is "not a factor in these issues." Russian interest in Serbian industry unrelated to Kosovo “What is important to think about, is that every postponement of the privatization of this oil giant will have negative effects,” Popovic said, adding that he hopes the tender will be announced by the end of the year. Popovic said that there are different views of the privatization of NIS among the parties of the ruling coalition, adding that all of the parties will give their official stances on the issue within the next several weeks, regarding the transformation of the company’s ownership structure. The chief of the Russian oil giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller, will be in Belgrade next week to discuss cooperation in the energy sector with Serbian state officials.

Russian interest in Serbian industry unrelated to Kosovo

“What is important to think about, is that every postponement of the privatization of this oil giant will have negative effects,” Popović said, adding that he hopes the tender will be announced by the end of the year.

Popović said that there are different views of the privatization of NIS among the parties of the ruling coalition, adding that all of the parties will give their official stances on the issue within the next several weeks, regarding the transformation of the company’s ownership structure.

The chief of the Russian oil giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller, will be in Belgrade next week to discuss cooperation in the energy sector with Serbian state officials.