Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said today, commenting on objections to the entry of the Hungarian company "MOL" as the majority owner of the Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS), that the Pancevo Refinery was included in the contract because of the Serbian side.
Speaking to Serbian journalists in Davos, where he is participating in the World Economic Forum, Vučić asked whether people who criticize the decision "know how much effort and work Serbia has invested to guarantee the continued operation of the Pancevo Refinery."
"Do you know that someone didn't want to accept it right away? Logically, they have a refinery in Bratislava and Budapest, but we included it in the agreement between Serbia and MOL, and the refinery has to work," he said.
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 seize their property, and then say whatever comes to mind," Vučić asked.
Vučić also stated that Serbia cannot get everything it wants, adding that it wanted to be the majority owner in NIS, but that it did not succeed.
"You are now blaming 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 said.
Asked about the request sent to the US OFAC and when their response can be expected, Vučić said that he believes that a preliminary agreement between the Russian and Hungarian sides is sufficient for the Americans to give in.
"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, 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 conclusion of the contract," said Vučić.
Bonus video:
