Russia’s ambassador to Belgrade, Aleksandar Bocan-Kharchenko, says that negotiations are underway with the Russian giant Gazpromneft on the privatization of Pancevo’s Petrohemija, and he is convinced that an agreement could be reached soon.
‘’There is interest in Petrohemija, and as far as details are concerned, negotiations are underway and it is difficult to say what kind of contract we can expect. I think that a solution will be reached soon,” Bocan-Kharchenko told Tanjug.
He points out that he expects that all started projects will be realized on time and points out that he is encouraged by the fact that during the most difficult, initial period of the pandemic, none of the Russian companies engaged in Serbia stopped.
Speaking about the joint projects of Serbia and Russia, he reminds that Presidents Vladimir Putin and Aleksandar Vucic discussed them in a telephone conversation a few days ago and expressed satisfaction with the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
“Continuation of the activities of the Russian Railways, opening of the section of the gas pipeline and the plant “Deep Processing”, in the situation when we are facing a global pandemic, are great achievements and show that, despite a certain reduction in trade, which is expected in the current conditions, our cooperation continues at full speed,” Bocan- Kharchenko points out.
He reminded that there have been several talks on the privatization of Petrohemija so far at all levels, and during the opening of the “Deep Processing” plant in Pancevo, on the occasion of which the President of the Management Board of Gazpromneft, Aleksandar Djukov, visited Serbia in November.
When it comes to infrastructure projects on which the Russian Railways (RZD) are engaged, primarily the works on the section of the high-speed railway Stara Pazova – Novi Sad, the completion of which has been announced by the end of the year, Bocan-Kharchenko points out that Russian Railways will complete the project and adds that the railway is part of the European infrastructure corridor and should be built in accordance with the highest standards and technologies.
Asked whether Russian Railways is interested in taking part in the construction of the continuation of the high-speed railway from Belgrade to Nis, the ambassador said that the company came to Serbia for a longer period in order to participate in the realization of several key and long-term infrastructure projects.
He adds that each of these projects, such as the section of the high-speed railway Stara Pazova – Novi Sad, represents a “turn” because, Bocan-Kharchenko points out, it will improve Serbia’s capabilities in the field of infrastructure, economy and integration into European flows.
Russian railways should also renovate the bar railway from Valjevo to the border with Montenegro, as well as build the most modern dispatch center for railway management in Serbia, and the Russian ambassador says that due to the situation with the pandemic, it is difficult to specify the beginning of those works.
“The situation is very difficult, it is not known when the crisis will end and restrictions related to the pandemic are possible, but everything will be within the agreed deadlines. We are encouraged by the fact that during the most difficult, initial period of the pandemic, none of the Russian companies engaged in Serbia stopped and everything was fulfilled on time,” Bocan-Kharchenko points out.
He also points out that a part of the national gas transportation system, which enables Serbia to supply Russian gas from the Turkish stream, was opened on January 1st this year, ie as agreed in the contract.
He also points out the importance of opening the Information and Education Center of the Russian Railways in Belgrade, which will be used for training and development of domestic staff. This is important not only from the point of view of technology and equipment, but also as a confirmation of the responsible, serious and humane attitude of that company towards the country in which it operates.
“It is a confirmation that the Russian railways are looking ahead, that they want to stay and have a caring attitude towards the people and the country, and that they want Serbia to have its experts trained in the best way. It is a very humane, serious and responsible relationship,” states Bocan-Kharchenko, Dnevnik reports.
