Q:
A:
Government unanimous regarding economic policy
Belgrade,
21 March 2010
Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said that from a strategic point of view, Serbia needs an export-oriented economy because this is the model for all developed countries of a similar size.
File photo of Mirko Cvetkovic
Author:
Tanjug
In an interview for today’s edition of the Politika daily, Cvetkovic stressed that if Serbia wants to continue its development, it has to found it on non-tradable goods.
He added that this is an ideal situation for investors who do not place their faith in ratings to come to Serbia and do well in business.
It is my impression that we have made a huge step forward, but I also believe that our people lack optimism, because we have had a long period of negative scenarios. It is only recently that good things started happening to us, but it will take some time for the people to gain self-confidence, the Prime Minister said.
He noted that it would be a good move to sell Telekom this year, adding that by abolishing the monopoly on the landline phone network, the need to privatise Telekom arose.
Telekom will be sold at a tender. However, I am more inclined towards the option which implies the sale of one part of Telekom now, while the other would remain state-owned, Cvetkovic noted.
The Prime Minister announced that on 31 December the monopoly over the oil and oil derivatives market will also be abolished, regardless of the protests by Russian partners in the Serbian oil industry NIS.
He announced that the government is stable and of one mind when it comes to the implementation of the country’s economic policy, adding that 2010 will be much better than last year, though a change for the better may not yet be felt in the day to day life of citizens.
The government has to rely on the social aspect, create additional demand and help people, Cvetkovic noted stressing that the government will contemplate any ideas put forward by employers and unions.
Whenever employers and unions reach an agreement, the government will accept it. It will also with great pleasure take into consideration all ideas jointly proposed by unions and employers, he noted.
The Prime Minister stressed that the Greek scenario will not happen to Serbia since the situation with its public debt and the control over it is perfectly clear.
Our public debt refers only to loans for infrastructure projects. We did increase our public debt in 2009 and it rose to 32%, but we must not forget that a part of it was redirected to budget reserves which currently amount to around half a billion Euros, he explained.
As for cooperation in the region, Cvetkovic said that Serbia wants to maintain cooperation with all countries and make friends, not enemies.
He added that this is an ideal situation for investors who do not place their faith in ratings to come to Serbia and do well in business.
It is my impression that we have made a huge step forward, but I also believe that our people lack optimism, because we have had a long period of negative scenarios. It is only recently that good things started happening to us, but it will take some time for the people to gain self-confidence, the Prime Minister said.
He noted that it would be a good move to sell Telekom this year, adding that by abolishing the monopoly on the landline phone network, the need to privatise Telekom arose.
Telekom will be sold at a tender. However, I am more inclined towards the option which implies the sale of one part of Telekom now, while the other would remain state-owned, Cvetkovic noted.
The Prime Minister announced that on 31 December the monopoly over the oil and oil derivatives market will also be abolished, regardless of the protests by Russian partners in the Serbian oil industry NIS.
He announced that the government is stable and of one mind when it comes to the implementation of the country’s economic policy, adding that 2010 will be much better than last year, though a change for the better may not yet be felt in the day to day life of citizens.
The government has to rely on the social aspect, create additional demand and help people, Cvetkovic noted stressing that the government will contemplate any ideas put forward by employers and unions.
Whenever employers and unions reach an agreement, the government will accept it. It will also with great pleasure take into consideration all ideas jointly proposed by unions and employers, he noted.
The Prime Minister stressed that the Greek scenario will not happen to Serbia since the situation with its public debt and the control over it is perfectly clear.
Our public debt refers only to loans for infrastructure projects. We did increase our public debt in 2009 and it rose to 32%, but we must not forget that a part of it was redirected to budget reserves which currently amount to around half a billion Euros, he explained.
As for cooperation in the region, Cvetkovic said that Serbia wants to maintain cooperation with all countries and make friends, not enemies.
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