(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 22 - The Serbian government is waiting for US approval on an oil deal in principle between Hungary's Mol and Russia's Gazprom to acquire Russia's stake in NIS. Serbian Minister of Mines and Energy, Dubravka Djedović Handanović, stated in the pro-government daily Politika that this will allow them to increase their stake in the latter by 5%, bringing it to over 33%. They will also be able to "block decisions that are not in their best interests in the future." According to the minister, the divestment of Gazpromneft's property, which previously controlled not only the Pancevo refinery but also the nearby Hip-PetroHemija petrochemical plant, will be agreed upon in the terms of the Nis purchase contract, on which a preliminary agreement was announced on Monday. (ANSA).