Serbia to meet IMF, World Bank officials

During the spring sessions of the IMF and the World Bank, the Serbian delegation will speak to representatives of both institutions. According to the office of Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, who will lead the Serbian delegation, talks will also be held with representatives from the central banks of a number of countries, as well as from foreign commercial banks. Serbia to meet IMF, World Bank officials It was stated that by April 14, the delegation would, together with International Monetary Fund (IMF) representatives in Washington, consider current macro-economic trends in Serbia. The implementation of economic policy will also be assessed. The opportunity will also be taken to highlight the fact that Serbian cooperation with that institution in the coming period is of key importance to achieving further progress in implementing economic and structural reforms, completing the privatization process, and confronting the challenges on the road to the EU. It also mentions the possibility of coming to a new arrangement, the final word on which the new government will have after the May 11 elections, Djelic’s office says. According to the statement, with regards to the unilateral and illegal declaration of Kosovo independence, the Serbian delegation will express its opposition to the province’s possible membership of the IMF. Since 2000, the IMF has offered Serbia continuous support for the country’s reform program, and has thus far approved three financial arrangements worth around USD 1.6bn. The most recent three-year package was successfully completed in February 2006, it is stated, stressing that the funds that were spent on the basis of this arrangement were returned over the course of 2006 and 2007, thus squaring Serbia’s obligations with the IMF in their entirety. Moreover, the delegation will also hold talks with World Bank representatives on implementing a new three-year financial program called “Partnership Strategy with the Republic of Serbia”, that the Bank’s board of directors approved on December 13, 2007. The statement also stresses that the program has been put together in accordance with Serbia’s aims linked to European integration, and that its purpose will be to carry out reforms to guarantee further development, reduced unemployment and poverty, environmental protection, and an improved standard of living. The statement adds that Djelic will also be holding a lecture at one of the world’s most prestigious universities, John Hopkins’ Center for Trans-Atlantic Studies. Bozidar Djelic (FoNet, archive)

Serbia to meet IMF, World Bank officials

It was stated that by April 14, the delegation would, together with International Monetary Fund (IMF) representatives in Washington, consider current macro-economic trends in Serbia.

The implementation of economic policy will also be assessed.

The opportunity will also be taken to highlight the fact that Serbian cooperation with that institution in the coming period is of key importance to achieving further progress in implementing economic and structural reforms, completing the privatization process, and confronting the challenges on the road to the EU. It also mentions the possibility of coming to a new arrangement, the final word on which the new government will have after the May 11 elections, Đelić’s office says.

According to the statement, with regards to the unilateral and illegal declaration of Kosovo independence, the Serbian delegation will express its opposition to the province’s possible membership of the IMF.

Since 2000, the IMF has offered Serbia continuous support for the country’s reform program, and has thus far approved three financial arrangements worth around USD 1.6bn.

The most recent three-year package was successfully completed in February 2006, it is stated, stressing that the funds that were spent on the basis of this arrangement were returned over the course of 2006 and 2007, thus squaring Serbia’s obligations with the IMF in their entirety.

Moreover, the delegation will also hold talks with World Bank representatives on implementing a new three-year financial program called “Partnership Strategy with the Republic of Serbia”, that the Bank’s board of directors approved on December 13, 2007.

The statement also stresses that the program has been put together in accordance with Serbia’s aims linked to European integration, and that its purpose will be to carry out reforms to guarantee further development, reduced unemployment and poverty, environmental protection, and an improved standard of living.

The statement adds that Đelić will also be holding a lecture at one of the world’s most prestigious universities, John Hopkins’ Center for Trans-Atlantic Studies.