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Moscow gets control



By Upstream staff 

Serbia and Russia’s energy pact which gives Moscow control of the Balkan country’s oil and gas sector will be approved after a general election on 11 May.

The pact, which was signed in January, includes Serbia in Gazprom’s South Stream gas pipeline in return for Serbia selling a majority stake of oil monopoly NIS to Gazprom Neft.

The delay in the pact's approval has no practical effect.

Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic of the pro-Western Democratic Party after a session of the outgoing government said: “The new parliament will ratify the agreement.”

The 10 month old coalition of nationalists and pro-Western liberals fell last month as a result of being divided over whether to pursue European Union membership despite the bloc’s support for Kosovo province’s separation in February.

Russia was Serbia's main ally in trying to keep Kosovo, and backs Belgrade in blocking the territory's entry into the United Nations.

The energy pact was seen by some analysts and politicians as a Serbian concession in return for Russia's help.


Thursday, 03 April, 2008, 19:55 GMT  | last updated: Thursday, 03 April, 2008, 19:56 GMT

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