Djedovic Handanovic: Serbia has Hungary's support regarding gas supplies

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Friday Serbia had Hungary's support when it comes to natural gas supplies.

Djedovic Handanovic said this after a meeting with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto.

"Hungary is a friendly country with which we maintain exceptional relations, especially in the energy sector, where we are discussing many common topics and relying on each other in these uncertain times," she said at a press conference with Szijjarto at the Palace of Serbia.

Hungary is a partner we have firm cooperation with, she said.

"Thanks to the good cooperation, we have additional quantities of gas stored in Hungary. They are higher than last year," she said, adding that Hungary counted on the Balkan Stream gas pipeline, which runs through Serbia.

"It is a secure supply source for Serbia and Hungary," she said.

Djedovic Handanovic said the meeting with Szijjarto had also addressed Bulgaria's decision to introduce a new gas transit fee, which she noted jeopardised the security of supplies and international agreements.

She said they had also discussed measures that could be taken to protect the positions of the two countries.

"We will try to overcome this challenge in discussions with the Bulgarian side," Djedovic Handanovic said.

She added that an alternative gas supply route from Azerbaijan via Bulgaria would be secured and that a gas interconnector with Bulgaria would be completed in a few days' time.

"We expect the gas pipeline to become operational by the end of November," she said.

Szijjarto noted that Hungary extremely appreciated cooperation with countries contributing to its energy security.

He added that Serbia was helping Hungary when it comes to energy supplies and energy security and noted that Bulgaria's introduction of the new gas transit fee was an unacceptable move.