Vucic: I am determined to protect Serbian interests regarding NIS

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday evening he could not disclose the name of a third party Russia was in talks with about Serbia's Russian-majority owned oil company NIS, but warned that time was running out and that Washington, Moscow, or anyone else, should not think he was not determined enough to protect Serbian interests when it comes to NIS, which is under US sanctions.

"We said we would accept any request they make, but they need to know one thing: that our time is running out - we have about ten days left, but no one should think I am not determined enough to protect Serbian interests," Vucic said on Pink TV.

Vucic was commenting on the news that the company's Russian owners had sent a request to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to extend NIS's operating licence on the grounds of negotiations with a third-party.

Vucic noted that the Russian government had sent the request and was in talks with a third party he could not name.

"They are in talks with a third party, I know that, but I cannot disclose that information at this time... Right now, the way I understand the management structure, it remains to be seen whether the Americans will be satisfied with that and whether they will say 'we accept the management structure, but we want a change of ownership over a period of time,'" Vucic said.

In the request to OFAC, the Russian side said it was ready to cede control of the company to a third party.