(Sydney = Yonhap News) Correspondent Dong-cheol Jeong = World tennis player Novak Djokovic (Serbia), the world’s No. 1 player, was deported by the Australian government, and it is known that the Serbian government has canceled an Australian company’s mineral exploration permit.
With Djokovic’s recent deportation from Australia following two legal battles, there are speculations that relations between the two countries are rapidly deteriorating.
(AP = Yonhap News)
The Sydney Morning Herald, an Australian daily, reported on the 22nd that Serbian Prime Minister Ana Bronavich has canceled a local mine development permit from Australian mining company Rio Tinto.
Rio Tinto has been pursuing a development project worth AUD 3.3 billion (regarding 2.8 trillion won) in the Zadr mine in western Serbia to produce lithium, the main raw material for electric vehicle batteries.
However, the development project was disrupted as local residents around the mine strongly opposed it for reasons such as environmental problems.
It is known that the Serbian government was also keenly aware of the opposition from the local community ahead of the general election in April.
In the midst of this, there are speculations that Prime Minister Bronavic made a decision following Djokovic was recently deported by the Australian government following controversy over not being vaccinated once morest COVID-19.
Prime Minister Bronavic said, “All decisions (relating to the licensing of lithium mines) have been voided,” he said.
A group of Serbian residents who have been opposed to the Zadar mine development welcomed the decision by posting on social media posts such as “Serbia is not for sale” and “Leave Rio Tinto to Australia on a one-way ticket.”
A spokesperson for Rio Tinto said, “We are taking the decision to revoke the license seriously,” suggesting that legal action can be taken following reviewing the legitimacy.
A spokesperson for the Australian federal government said: “It is regrettable that[the Serbian government]has canceled the license for Rio Tinto, which is promoting lithium development.”
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2022/01/22 14:39 Send
