"Serbia ready to start talks with IMF" - Vučić

“The unprofitable state-run gas company Srbijagas with its debts of about one billion euros is a burden on public finances and the government is working to resolve it, so that it doesn't hinder IMF talks,”

Let me translate this:

“One of my rich foreign friends wants to buy Srbijagas for cheap. I will call it “unprofitable,” a “burden,” and tell everyone that it has massive debts and the public will applaud me when I sell it for peanuts. Oh, by the way, when I do sell it, the debts will remain with the Serbian government.”

But is the IMF ready to start talks with you? If I was the IMF, I would stay clear of Serbia for a while. I would wait to see if it can clean up its act a bit - and employ some of the suggestions provided by international financial organizations. Dacic, not long ago, pretty much suggested the IMF go take a walk, to put it mildly. I don't think the IMF has forgotten that. We shall see. In any case, Serbia must first employ some the debt reduction actions suggested to her, before any IMF (borrowing) talks begin. There is way too much waste at the state level, to even think of sitting down with Serbian finance ministers (the Vucic one-man show).

I don't like him, but if he brings investors then he can have my support. I hope that finally someone wants to work something.

I don't like him, but if he brings investors then he can have my support. I hope that finally someone wants to work something.

“The unprofitable state-run gas company Srbijagas with its debts of about one billion euros is a burden on public finances and the government is working to resolve it, so that it doesn't hinder IMF talks,”

Let me translate this:

“One of my rich foreign friends wants to buy Srbijagas for cheap. I will call it “unprofitable,” a “burden,” and tell everyone that it has massive debts and the public will applaud me when I sell it for peanuts. Oh, by the way, when I do sell it, the debts will remain with the Serbian government.”

But is the IMF ready to start talks with you? If I was the IMF, I would stay clear of Serbia for a while. I would wait to see if it can clean up its act a bit - and employ some of the suggestions provided by international financial organizations. Dacic, not long ago, pretty much suggested the IMF go take a walk, to put it mildly. I don't think the IMF has forgotten that. We shall see. In any case, Serbia must first employ some the debt reduction actions suggested to her, before any IMF (borrowing) talks begin. There is way too much waste at the state level, to even think of sitting down with Serbian finance ministers (the Vucic one-man show).