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Government reacts well to crisis
Belgrade,
8 July 2009
Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic today stated that visa abolition, which is expected to come into force in early 2010, can be considered the government’s greatest success.
At a press conference, held on the occasion of the government’s first year in office, the Prime Minister said that the government will do all it can to secure the unfreezing of the Transitional Trade Agreement with the EU.
He reiterated that the government is making every effort to apprehend Hague indictee Ratko Mladic and expressed his belief that it would lead to the completion of cooperation with the Hague tribunal.
The Prime Minister pointed out that in the past year the government managed to stabilise the financial sector and the dinar exchange rate, adding that it reacted well to the global financial crisis.
A further fall in industrial production was halted in May, he said, noting that the government expects a mild recovery of the Serbian economy during the upcoming period.
As for the fight against crime and corruption, Cvetkovic said that the laws on judicial reform, the Anti-corruption Agency and the confiscation of illegally obtained property have already been adopted.
According to him the government has also managed to reduce the crime rate and corruption.
Cvetkovic stressed that the government is making efforts to cover the budget deficit, adding that there is no doubt that it will finally manage to secure enough funds.
Cvetkovic said he is against cutting salaries and pensions as ways to reduce the budget deficit, since that would only reduce public consumption and further deepen the recession.
He said a higher budget deficit, when compared to the agreement with the IMF, is a consequence of a reduction in the inflow of funds, and not increased spending.
There are several ways to finance a budget deficit and we will discuss that with the IMF mission scheduled to arrive in Belgrade later in August, Cvetkovic added.
He also noted that during his last visit to New York he talked with Russian government representatives about Russian loans to Serbia, specifying that these are financial loans for covering the budget deficit and special purpose loans for certain projects.
As for how high are Serbia’s new debts, the Prime Minister said that the state debt is within projected limits and stands at less than €1 billion.
He denied allegations of increasing indebtedness, adding that while taking new loans, Serbia is also repaying previous ones.
The Prime Minister said that one of the topics at the meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was Jordan’s recognition of Kosovo independence. Abbas voiced his regret over that and affirmed Palestinian support to Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He reiterated that the government is making every effort to apprehend Hague indictee Ratko Mladic and expressed his belief that it would lead to the completion of cooperation with the Hague tribunal.
The Prime Minister pointed out that in the past year the government managed to stabilise the financial sector and the dinar exchange rate, adding that it reacted well to the global financial crisis.
A further fall in industrial production was halted in May, he said, noting that the government expects a mild recovery of the Serbian economy during the upcoming period.
As for the fight against crime and corruption, Cvetkovic said that the laws on judicial reform, the Anti-corruption Agency and the confiscation of illegally obtained property have already been adopted.
According to him the government has also managed to reduce the crime rate and corruption.
Cvetkovic stressed that the government is making efforts to cover the budget deficit, adding that there is no doubt that it will finally manage to secure enough funds.
Cvetkovic said he is against cutting salaries and pensions as ways to reduce the budget deficit, since that would only reduce public consumption and further deepen the recession.
He said a higher budget deficit, when compared to the agreement with the IMF, is a consequence of a reduction in the inflow of funds, and not increased spending.
There are several ways to finance a budget deficit and we will discuss that with the IMF mission scheduled to arrive in Belgrade later in August, Cvetkovic added.
He also noted that during his last visit to New York he talked with Russian government representatives about Russian loans to Serbia, specifying that these are financial loans for covering the budget deficit and special purpose loans for certain projects.
As for how high are Serbia’s new debts, the Prime Minister said that the state debt is within projected limits and stands at less than €1 billion.
He denied allegations of increasing indebtedness, adding that while taking new loans, Serbia is also repaying previous ones.
The Prime Minister said that one of the topics at the meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was Jordan’s recognition of Kosovo independence. Abbas voiced his regret over that and affirmed Palestinian support to Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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