BELGRADE, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Serbia's Russian-owned and

U.S.-sanctioned NIS oil company has filed a request

to the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets

Control, seeking a special licence that would allow it

uninterrupted operations, the company said on Wednesday.

"In line with the status of the negotiations between

shareholders and interested parties, a request has been

submitted to OFAC for a new licence that would enable the

company's operations to continue while negotiations on a

sustainable solution for NIS are ongoing," the statement said.

OFAC initially placed sanctions on Russia's oil sector,

including Gazprom in January, but for NIS, which

operates Serbia's only oil refinery, they were postponed several

times and finally came into effect on October 8.

On Sunday, Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic said

Serbia has seven days to decide on steps to resolve the crisis

with NIS without nationalisation.

Washington is seeking complete Russian divestment from NIS and

on Saturday gave the company's owners a licence allowing

them three months to find a buyer.

Gazprom Neft controls 44.9% of NIS and Gazprom 11.3% while

Serbia owns 29.9%, with the rest held by small shareholders.