Serbia: Kosovo recognition not IMF condition
The IMF has not raised the issue of Belgrade’s recognition of the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo and Metohija and set it as a condition for offering crisis assistance to Serbia, and it has no intention to do that in the in the future, the Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported on Thursday.
Itar-Tass says that rumor about the possible IMF conditioning its financial help to Serbia was “twisting of facts presented by the German daily Die Tageszeitung”.
The German daily claimed that certain IMF stockholders had allegedly demanded that political conditions regarding Kosovo status be set to Serbia.
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic underlined on Wednesday that the agreement with the IMF and the Kosovo issue were not linked.
“In the negotiations with the IMF and in my talks with the EU about the economic crisis, we never mentioned Kosovo as a condition,” Jeremic said.
It is in the interest of everyone to avoid bringing the two issues in connection, he stressed, assessing that that would only lead to severe complications.
IMF has been negotiating a loan with Serbia and the IMF Serbia Mission Head Albert Jaeger has said that it is largely dependent upon Belgrade when the IMF Executive Board will approve the agreement on a credit arrangement worth three billion euros reached between the IMF and Serbia last week.
Jaeger said that IMF is waiting on Serbia to submit a revised budget plan to parliament which may include raising of taxes on income.
Serbia hinted that it is ready to raise taxes on people in the midst of the recession in order to shore up its dwindling tax receipts. Economics literature is full of evidence of detrimental effects of tax rise during recessions.
“Serbia’s economy has been severely hit by the global financial crisis, in particular by the drop in exports in January and February and the reduced inflow of capital,” Jaeger said.
Yesterday, US Steel announced that it will suspend parts of its steel production in Serbia.
Serbia accumulated huge foreign loans over the past few years and that has been reflected in the current high deficit and big foreign debt, Jaeger said.
Meanwhile, French Ambassador to Belgrade Jean-Francois Terral upped the pressure on Serbia by saying that, that although the recognition of Kosovo independence is not a condition for that, Serbia should find ways to normalize its relations with Kosovo.
“One can hardly imagine the possibility that Serbia will join the EU and at the same time have an antagonistic attitude toward Kosovo,” Terral said.
April 3, 2009
SERBIANNA
Not directly JeroRussovic,
They will make other conditions unacceptable (see an extra 6% of $150+ salaries) until you realize the truth.
The truth is that Kosovo Albanians are going down.
Germany was defeated once. It will be defeated again, but this time they will take down their friends with them.
It’s only a matter of time.
Who liberated Europe last time? Well, the same people will again.
We must never forget the say that Germany has in all this.
Never forget Kragujevac, never forget what they are capable to do, they did it repeatingly through the history, now under NATO.
Agimo Americanovic are you from Mars? or from albania?
Bole Grob Nego Rob , publish my comments whats the harm?.
“Who liberated Europe last time? Well, the same people will again.”
Not Milan Nedic that’s for sure.
Agimo you are right. Not Milan Nedic. But the liberators will liberate Europe again. So what do you say about that.
Don’t change the subject like you just did.
Agimo is from Afghanistan don’t make him look too stupid
Mili, Agimo makes himself look stupid.
Agimo is an albanian fool from the mountains of Afghanistan
Mili that was funny , i come read these comments and laugh how much albanians are made fun off on this site
Serbs, read Blic: Argentina style bankruptcy is awaiting serbia.
Fiat canceled their investment, a cement factory, loans are at 59%. Albania in NATO is getting it all now
Agimo hahah how much crack today ? albania only in Nato so they use your land like they use albanian women back in Kosovo. Serbia is still 500 times richer then albania, dont forget agimo Russia is getting richer and richer
Serbia was offered Nato deal before Croatia or albania but it refused, because it has Russia behind it for military support. Blic is not reporting this but maybe albanian propaganda papers are
http://www.blic.rs/index_eng.php
“albanian women back in Kosovo.”
The women are slavic: Ukranian, Russian and Serbian
Where are women slavic…back in Kosovo..Kosovo is 92% ethnic albanian there is no EU police in North M. so we know who’s they are using.
did i say…………………. KOSOVO I SERBIA ………….. WE WILL NEVER FORGET IT….WE WILL COME BACK………….. 1 3 8 9 !
@ Goran
Russia’s economy is currently decreasing, not “getting richer and richer”.
Sure it is that is why Russia has expanded its military budget as biggest so far dating back to fall of the USSR
you will see
Kosovo je Srbija!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!