President says Serbia can afford alternatives to Russian fuel

Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic poses for a photograph during an interview with Reuters in Belgrade, Serbia, August 29, 2022. REUTERS/Zorana Jevtic

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic said the country's finances were resilient enough to secure alternatives to Russian energy to tackle supply shortages expected over coming months.

The Balkan country is heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas, which have been disrupted following the Ukraine war and the imposition of sanctions on Moscow by the European Union, which Serbia is seeking to join.

Vuciv said Serbia was seeking fuel supplies wherever it could.

We have to pay the price of the war on European soil, he said, but added the people would not suffer as the nation's financial system could cope.

We will be taking Iraq (oil), ... I will try to speak with Venezuela as well. We would take from wherever. We are not squeamish, Vucic said.

Serbia also plans to purchase gas from Azerbaijan in 2023 and has increased the amount of gas it holds in storage to the highest level yet.