Bajatovic: New delay of US sanctions on NIS good news

BELGRADE - Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic said on Tuesday the latest 30-day delay of US sanctions on Serbia's Russian majority-owned oil company NIS was good news and left space for the company to "survive."

Speaking to the RTS, Bajatovic said that, as a result, no shortages or oil price hikes were expected in the Serbian market as NIS was capable of being a dependable supplier.

"We cannot say it (the delay) was expected, you have to fight. The government fought, our lobbyists fought, this was definitely influenced by our political activities and the Government of Serbia and NIS attorney teams, and there were also some intermediate moves by Gazprom neft," Bajatovic said.

He said a longer delay could not have been expected as the sanctions were political in nature, with Russia-US relations deteriorating.

"The sanctions are targeting Serbia as collateral damage, but space has been left for NIS to survive and be able to breathe," he said.

The new delay of US sanctions on NIS was announced on Monday evening.