RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR ON NIS: A Solution Is Being Sought in the Spirit of Friendly Relations Between Serbia and Russia!

Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Bocan-Harchenko said that a solution is being sought for the Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) that will, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has also stated, above all be in the spirit and framework of the friendly relations between the two countries.

In a statement to Tanjug, Bocan-Harchenko emphasized that when it comes to NIS, Russia does not want to give up on finding a solution and say — we are giving up, and you live as you wish.

“As far as NIS is concerned, a solution is being sought, and I would like to stress that it is very important for the process to proceed without explaining certain details, which may not be necessary at this moment and may even be harmful. This is a situation in which silence is the best atmosphere and creates the best conditions for continuing attempts to find the best solution,” Ambassador Bocan-Harchenko said.

He added that such an atmosphere is important also because the NIS issue is not simple but quite complicated. According to the ambassador, when talking about NIS it is important to know what the cause of these developments and the situation in Serbia is, because NIS is a key company for Serbia and the most important one in the energy sector.

“The fundamental reason is U.S. sanctions, which are not legitimate or legal and have no explanation as to what their goal is. It appears that these sanctions are directed against Serbia, because Serbia has the most difficult situation,” the ambassador said, adding that some media forget this fact.

When talking about NIS, he added, the basic reason is being bypassed and criticism of Russia begins immediately, claiming that there is still no solution and that Moscow could find one right away.

“It is impossible to find a solution immediately and in a rush,” he said. The ambassador recalled that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said there are still steps to a solution and added that this is clear, because everything is not yet finished.

As the Russian ambassador said, the situation surrounding NIS must be viewed within the context of all statements, and above all the very substantive statement given by President Vladimir Putin on December 19 at his annual press conference.

“He said everything and outlined the fundamental and key points, and of course that statement also contains determination and well-founded hope that we will find a solution that will above all be in the spirit and within the framework of our friendly relations,” Ambassador Bocan-Harchenko said.

He added that for the public in such a situation, the most important thing is to know whether there is fuel or not, whether gas stations have it, what the price is, and that there are no queues.

The ambassador described as extremely important the fact that, from the perspective of NIS, the situation in Serbia is the same as it was before the sanctions.

“This primarily shows and confirms that NIS is an exceptionally serious and strong company, which is an achievement of our joint efforts. NIS is a company that, in every sense of the word, was prepared for difficult situations and not only for the best ones, as well as capable of surviving while preserving the country’s energy stability and the stability of the energy market,” the ambassador said, stressing that this is the most important thing.

Bocan-Harchenko expressed confidence that the period during which a solution is being sought will not be to the detriment of consumers, adding that this includes both citizens who buy fuel and larger consumers such as the agricultural sector or Air Serbia.

“NIS could have been prepared for sanctions only through our intensive and close joint cooperation and through the exceptional professional activity of the Gazprom Group and the Government of Serbia,” he said, assessing that this situation has broader significance in terms of Serbia’s economic development and economic stability.

Bocan-Harchenko also stated that it is very important for Gazprom as a company to preserve functionality and the achieved level of development.