Djedovic Handanovic: Gov't prepared if US sanctions on NIS enter into force Thursday

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic told Tanjug the government was prepared for a scenario where US sanctions on Serbia's Russian majority-owned oil company NIS would not be deferred and that fuel would continue to be available at NIS petrol stations even in case the sanctions entered into force on Thursday.

"Theoretically, everything is possible even at the very last minute, but if that (a deferral) does not happen, we need to assess scenarios to secure continued supplies, above all, at petrol stations, so that citizens have no reason to worry, a reason to panic, or a reason to make stockpiles," Djedovic Handanovic noted.

She was responding to a question whether there was a possibility of the announced US sanctions being deferred.

Unless deferred, the sanctions will enter into force on Thursday 6 am CET.

Djedovic Handanovic said that, if the sanctions did enter into force, citizens would be able to purchase fuel at NIS petrol stations using the majority of payment cards, rather than just cash.

"Citizens will certainly be able to buy fuel. As far as payments are concerned, we also have other competent state institutions and authorities that are taking certain measures to ensure everything continues to function as it has until now," she said.

"I expect the majority of payment cards to continue to be functional. It just remains to be seen how one or two institutions will react. We will certainly be overseeing the situation and taking measures accordingly," Djedovic Handanovic said.