Djedovic Handanovic chairs first meeting of working group on NIS sanctions

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic chaired on Monday the first meeting of a government working group set up to monitor the activities of the US Department of the Treasury and its Office of Foreign Assets Control in connection with US sanctions on Serbia's majority Russian-owned oil company NIS.

According to a statement released by her ministry, Djedovic Handanovic said the Serbian government was working with commitment to avert negative impacts of the sanctions.

"At this time, it is very important that we get additional clarification from the US administration, which I believe will happen today or tomorrow. At the same time, we are also preparing for dialogue with the incoming US administration to establish a platform for negotiations with the Russian side. We are all working in a synchronised manner as one team and our goal is that the state, headed by President Aleksandar Vucic, gets to the best solutions in the interest of the Republic of Serbia," the minister said.

She reiterated it was necessary for NIS to continue to operate without obstruction in the current transitional period.

"The state will continue to oversee the level of supplies in the market and prices and speak with all stakeholders in the market to preserve stability," Djedovic Handanovic said, adding that the working group would be meeting regularly in the coming days to monitor developments.