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Dragutinovic talks with IMF, World Bank representatives
Belgrade/Istanbul,
6 October 2009
Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic, who is attending the annual session of the World Bank and the IMF, met today with World Bank Vice-President for Europe and Central Asia Philippe le Houerou.
The Ministry says in a statement that they voiced their mutual pleasure at their cooperation so far and looked at models for future cooperation, as well as at the World Bank’s role in the crisis aftermath.
Houerou welcomed the Serbian government’s strong commitment to reforms, voicing the World Bank’s readiness to continue providing financial assistance to Serbia’s budget and infrastructure projects, as well as technical assistance.
He also announced the session of the World Bank Board, at which $200 million will be approved as support for the Serbian budget. The only condition Serbia will have to fulfil is to sign a programme with the IMF.
Dragutinovic and Houerou agreed that the recession has ended, though the recovery period is going to be slow and difficult.
Dragutinovic took the opportunity to present Serbia’s plan for continued talks with the IMF.
The World Bank believes that possibilities for continuing talks with the IMF are favourable and that the IMF may be flexible as to the amount of the deficit, although it may be more adamant when it comes to the credibility of reforms.
They agreed that reforms must yield visible results in 2010, and especially in the period after that year.
Minister Dragutinovic also met with Director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department Carlo Cotarelli and discussed technical assistance which the IMF is providing to Serbia, as well as possibilities for continuing this cooperation.
Dragutinovic stressed that the IMF’s assistance in areas such as tax collection and assessment of the tax system’s efficiency could be invaluable, as well as their recommendations for cutting public spending.
Cotarelli voiced the IMF’s readiness to respond positively to this request from the Ministry of Finance, stressing that the first news can be expected within two to three weeks, the statement adds.
Houerou welcomed the Serbian government’s strong commitment to reforms, voicing the World Bank’s readiness to continue providing financial assistance to Serbia’s budget and infrastructure projects, as well as technical assistance.
He also announced the session of the World Bank Board, at which $200 million will be approved as support for the Serbian budget. The only condition Serbia will have to fulfil is to sign a programme with the IMF.
Dragutinovic and Houerou agreed that the recession has ended, though the recovery period is going to be slow and difficult.
Dragutinovic took the opportunity to present Serbia’s plan for continued talks with the IMF.
The World Bank believes that possibilities for continuing talks with the IMF are favourable and that the IMF may be flexible as to the amount of the deficit, although it may be more adamant when it comes to the credibility of reforms.
They agreed that reforms must yield visible results in 2010, and especially in the period after that year.
Minister Dragutinovic also met with Director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department Carlo Cotarelli and discussed technical assistance which the IMF is providing to Serbia, as well as possibilities for continuing this cooperation.
Dragutinovic stressed that the IMF’s assistance in areas such as tax collection and assessment of the tax system’s efficiency could be invaluable, as well as their recommendations for cutting public spending.
Cotarelli voiced the IMF’s readiness to respond positively to this request from the Ministry of Finance, stressing that the first news can be expected within two to three weeks, the statement adds.
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