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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia to enter IMF programme by week’s end

Belgrade, 6 November 2008

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Bozidar Djelic said today that Serbia will enter the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme by the end of the week, which is the best recommendation for those considering investing in Serbia.

File photo of Bozidar Djelic

Author: Tanjug

Djelic specified that the government will discuss the programme today and tomorrow, adding that Serbia is not asking the IMF for loans.

According to Djelic, Serbia’s problem is that spending is 20% higher than income, which incurs debt.

He warned that there will be less investment, adding that Serbia has to preserve macroeconomic stability and synchronise spending with income.

Djelic also said that the European Commission’s report on Serbia’s progress is good ground for Serbia to acquire EU candidate status during 2009, if it meets the necessary preconditions such as full cooperation with the Hague tribunal.

The Minister said that the tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will give his opinion in this respect at the UN Security Council in mid-December, adding that the top precondition is the arrest of Hague indictee Ratko Mladic.

He stressed that it is up to Serbia to conclude cooperation with the Hague tribunal successfully. Only then will it be visible to the European Commission that Serbia is a pillar of Balkan stability and progress.

According to the report, Serbian parliament did not adopt a large number of laws regarding the fight against corruption and organised crime, necessary for judicial reform.

He also said that old passports will be valid until the end of 2009, adding that only citizens having the new biometric passport will be able to travel without visas.

Nearly 85,000 biometric passports have already been issued and 15,000 are being processed, specified Djelic, expressing hope that 1.5 million passports will be issued by the end of the next year.

According to him Serbia’s aim is to be included in the Schengen “white list” next year, which will entirely depend on the government’s ability to implement the necessary reforms.

As for illegal immigration, Djelic recalled that Serbia’s police had prevented the illegal immigration of Chinese citizens attempting to reach Europe through Serbia, which is proof of Serbia’s readiness to be included on the Schengen “white list”.

Djelic, having visited France recently, said that France is interested in the Balkan market.

He announced that the French government will contemplate Serbia’s visa liberalisation this week.

Djelic added that he met with French officials and leading people from aircraft company Airbus, in order to provide assistance to Serbian airlines.

We fought for the interests of the Serbian flight carrier Jat Airways, which is in a very difficult position, said Djelic, adding that the Serbian delegation agreed that France’s Sagem will invest approximately €15 million and provide 250 jobs for the electronics company EI Nis.