Vucic: I am hoping for Russian-Hungarian deal on NIS, we have prepared our package if needed

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday evening he hoped Russia and Hungary would reach a deal on Serbia's oil company NIS and that, just in case, Belgrade had prepared its own package for January 15, but noted that he did not expect it to be necessary.

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

In an appearance on Informer TV, Vucic said that, in case no deal was reached, "we have prepared our package, which we will go with from January 15, and that is it."

"I hope that will not be needed," he added.

Vucic also said he hoped Serbia would be able to buy at least 5 pct more NIS shares as that would give it full control over what the future majority owner would be doing.

"Because it is important for us to have 34 pct - more than one third - because then you can have insight into finances and everything else," he explained, noting that this would be his goal for Serbia in the next few months.

"Is it realistic? I think so," Vucic said.

Serbia currently has a 29.87 pct stake in NIS.

On December 31, the US Ministry of the Treasury issued a special operating licence to NIS until January 23.