Vucic: We have deal on extending gas supplies until March 31

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday Serbia had a deal in place with Russia on extending gas supplies for another three months.

Speaking to reporters after a ceremony at which employment contracts were awarded to the best graduates of faculties of medicine and medical high schools, Vucic said there would be no problems with gas supplies until March 31.

"We have a deal on extending the gas supplies for another three months, until March 31, so, people can feel safe and sleep calmly," Vucic said.

He added that Serbia would have sufficient electricity and gas for the winter season.

Vucic: Gazprom also in talks with MOL about selling its stake in NIS

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday he had information that Russia's energy giant Gazprom was in talks with the Hungarian company MOL, among others, about selling its stake in the Serbian oil firm NIS.

NIS is under US sanctions due to its Russian majority ownership.

"Hungarians are our friends, and that is all okay. If only we could finish things as soon as possible, by January 15," Vucic told reporters when asked if he had information that Gazprom was in talks with MOL.

He noted that Serbia had not received "a drop of crude oil" for 75 days now. Vucic added that, if there was no solution, the "NIS story" would end as he had said in the past and that the Serbian government would take over the company and pay the Russian side for its stake in it.

"So, that date (January 15) is approaching. Hopefully a solution will be found before that, but if not, what can we do?" Vucic said.