Vucic: U.S. Wants to Turn Serbia to Its Side

The building of the Presidency of Serbia in Belgrade(BETAPHOTO/Ana Slovic/)

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said on Jan. 5 that he did not believe the Americans wanted to punish Serbia, but that they wanted turn Serbia to their side instead.

Vucic told the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation's (RTS) morning program that the upcoming sanctions against the Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) "do not have very much to do with Russia's war efforts or any money." Vucic expects that with the arrival of Donald Trump and his new administration in the U.S., many measures will be lifted.

"I believe a lot will be revoked. I am not speaking about this specific measure (the announced sanctions against NIS); I would like that to be possible, but we will discuss it," the Serbian president said, adding that he had not spoken with the new U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, but that he knew people from his inner circle well, and would try to contact them.

According to Vucic, the U.S. document regarding the sanctions against NIS was expected to arrive on Jan. 10 or Jan. 13, but that it would not create a crisis. Vucic said on Jan. 4 that U.S. Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez had confirmed that U.S. sanctions against the state-run oil conglomerate would be introduced.