PM "seeking alternatives to Russian gas, not to EU"

PM "seeking alternatives to Russian gas, not to EU"

ZURICH -- Aleksandar Vucic has told a Swiss newspaper that "Serbia is seeking an alternative to Russian gas, not to EU (membership) as its strategic choice."

"I do not care whether energy in coming from New Zealand or from Macedonia, or anywhere else. I need gas at a good price," said the Serbian prime minister. He also told the Neue Zuricher Zeitung that this was "not a geopolitical game, but a game of survival for Serbia."

Asked to comment on "Russian President Vladimir Putin suddenly halting the construction of the South Stream pipeline," Vucic said he was "surprised and stunned" by the news, and that "Serbia is not satisfied with this decision, because it invests its own money, and needs gas."

"My job is to ensure energy security of the country," he said, and pointed out that "other countries, unlike Serbia, have alternative sources of gas," and that his recent statement that "American gas could be an alternative" should be viewed in this light.

"That's why we talk to Americans, to Russians and to others," said Vucic.

He explained that "Serbia will not abandon its road to Brussels, but of course also wants to preserve the traditionally good relations with Russia."

This, Vucic said, "does not mean that Serbia is seeking an alternative route, but remains on course towards the EU, period."

Asked whether he sometimes feels like he is "at the helm of Greece" - considering Serbia's high budget deficit, public companies accumulating losses and stagnant economic growth, Vucic said that "the feeling may be similar" but that Serbia "has taken a completely different path."

He pointed out that laws on labor and privatization had been changed...