PM on budget review, unfreezing of salaries

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic has announced that the budget rebalance will be carried out in two months. During his visit to households in the village of Pranjani damaged by stormy winds and hail, Cvetkovic told the press that this would "provide money for anti-hail protection in Serbia", Beta news agency reports. PM on budget review, unfreezing of salaries He also announced that by the end of 2010, anti-hail protection will be transferred from the jurisdiction of the Serbian Weather Service to the Emergency Situations Sector in the Interior Ministry. He also announced that, as a short-term solution, the government will grant money to help the households damaged in the storm which struck the municipality of Gornji Milanovac on Aug. 7. "It is even more important to take strategic measures that will enable the state to prevent such damage in the future," Cvetkovic assessed. Cvetkovic also said that any decision to unfreeze public sector salaries and pensions in 2010 would depend on available funds. The prime minister explained that this would be hard to implement due to the stand-by arrangement Serbia had entered with the IMF. "What we're looking at now, and based on the current situation, it's hard to believe this would be possible. But, never say never, let's wait and see," Cvetkovic was quoted as saying. "What's important is that we have a formal arrangement with the IMF that envisages the unfreezing of salaries for next year," he concluded.

PM on budget review, unfreezing of salaries

He also announced that by the end of 2010, anti-hail protection will be transferred from the jurisdiction of the Serbian Weather Service to the Emergency Situations Sector in the Interior Ministry.

He also announced that, as a short-term solution, the government will grant money to help the households damaged in the storm which struck the municipality of Gornji Milanovac on Aug. 7.

"It is even more important to take strategic measures that will enable the state to prevent such damage in the future," Cvetković assessed.

Cvetković also said that any decision to unfreeze public sector salaries and pensions in 2010 would depend on available funds.

The prime minister explained that this would be hard to implement due to the stand-by arrangement Serbia had entered with the IMF.

"What we're looking at now, and based on the current situation, it's hard to believe this would be possible. But, never say never, let's wait and see," Cvetković was quoted as saying.

"What's important is that we have a formal arrangement with the IMF that envisages the unfreezing of salaries for next year," he concluded.