The ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU as well as the “energy” agreement with Russia on Tuesday in the Serbian parliament was assessed by Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković as a significant step towards European integration and a better life for citizens.
"By ratifying the Energy Cooperation Agreement with the Russian Federation, the Stabilization and Association Agreement, and the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU, Serbia has shown that it wants to cooperate with both the West and the East simultaneously," said Cvetković.
He added that "Serbia is expected to be the engine of development in the region" and to "provide some kind of bridge for economies interested in European integration and economic cooperation with the East." Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić, as well as the leader of the newly established parliamentary club "Forward, Serbia" radical Tomislav Nikolić, stated that today's parliamentary decisions represent a "historic moment for Serbia."
Regarding the energy agreement with Russia, Minister of Economy Mlađan Dinkić commented on the remarks from representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party, the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, and the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians who voted against the agreement, considering it political (not economic) and harmful to Serbia.
Dinkić stated that further negotiations would aim to reach a fair price for the Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS), and that all assessments from auditing firms regarding the market value of NIS would be respected. Opponents of the agreement claim that NIS was actually gifted to the Russians for only 400 million euros. (H)
