Čanak party launches anti-NIS sale petition

The LSV have started a campaign to collect signatures to prevent the start of the NIS privatization. Deputy leader of the League of Vojvodina Social-Democrats (LSV) and former Speaker of the Vojvodina assembly Bojan Kostres says that his party does not oppose the Serbian oil monopoly's privatization, but that it should be done through a public tender, and that NIS should be privatized by the highest bidder. Canak party launches anti-NIS sale petition He said that the party, led by Nenad Canak, a part of the pre-election coalition gathered around the Democrats (DS), would vote against the energy agreement with Russia when its ratification is put up for a vote. This, he said, is because the LSV believes the state-owned oil company is worth more than EUR 400mn that Russia's Gazprom will pay for it, rather than because they oppose other parts of the agreement, including the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline in Serbia. "I don’t see how our negotiating team can agree to the EUR 400mn if the company is officially estimated to be worth EUR 2.2bn. That’s the estimate posted on the government’s website. Therefore, it’s an official information and we will insist on it,” Kostres said. He added that he sent an MP notice to the government. “I will insist on the response. The Russians have promised EUR 500mn in investments. When will those investments arrive, where will they go and in what way? Will they be invested on the same day the contract’s signed or in one year's time, or never,” Kostres wondered. He said that if the NIS privatization is of national interest, "Vojvodina needed to be compensated and receive 55 percent of the company’s value, i.e. EUR 1bn". Kostres said that according to the constitution, Vojvodina’s assets must be returned by December 31. The property Vojvodina requires contains Naftagas oil company. If it this company is privatized, Vojvodina must be adequately compensated, this party official said. The LSV started its protests against the NIS privatization on Sunday in Srbobran, near one of the rigs in that municipality. The campaign continued today when party activists gathered signatures for the petition on several locations in Novi Sad. Aleksandar Jovanovic, Speaker of the Novi Sad assembly, was present as the campaign started today. The sale of NIS is a part of the Russo-Serbian strategic energy agreement, signed in Moscow on Jan. 25 by then Russian President Vladimir Putin, Serbian President Boris Tadic, and then Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica. The document is currently in the parliamentary procedure, awaiting ratification. Bojan Kostres (FoNet)

Čanak party launches anti-NIS sale petition

He said that the party, led by Nenad Čanak, a part of the pre-election coalition gathered around the Democrats (DS), would vote against the energy agreement with Russia when its ratification is put up for a vote.

This, he said, is because the LSV believes the state-owned oil company is worth more than EUR 400mn that Russia's Gazprom will pay for it, rather than because they oppose other parts of the agreement, including the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline in Serbia.

"I don’t see how our negotiating team can agree to the EUR 400mn if the company is officially estimated to be worth EUR 2.2bn. That’s the estimate posted on the government’s website. Therefore, it’s an official information and we will insist on it,” Kostreš said.

He added that he sent an MP notice to the government.

“I will insist on the response. The Russians have promised EUR 500mn in investments.

When will those investments arrive, where will they go and in what way? Will they be invested on the same day the contract’s signed or in one year's time, or never,” Kostreš wondered.

He said that if the NIS privatization is of national interest, "Vojvodina needed to be compensated and receive 55 percent of the company’s value, i.e. EUR 1bn".

Kostreš said that according to the constitution, Vojvodina’s assets must be returned by December 31. The property Vojvodina requires contains Naftagas oil company.

If it this company is privatized, Vojvodina must be adequately compensated, this party official said.

The LSV started its protests against the NIS privatization on Sunday in Srbobran, near one of the rigs in that municipality. The campaign continued today when party activists gathered signatures for the petition on several locations in Novi Sad.

Aleksandar Jovanović, Speaker of the Novi Sad assembly, was present as the campaign started today.

The sale of NIS is a part of the Russo-Serbian strategic energy agreement, signed in Moscow on Jan. 25 by then Russian President Vladimir Putin, Serbian President Boris Tadić, and then Serbian PM Vojislav Koštunica.

The document is currently in the parliamentary procedure, awaiting ratification.