IMF in Belgrade on Wednesday on precautionary arrangement?

BELGRADE - A mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is coming to Serbia on Wednesday, Tanjug learnt at the IMF office in Belgrade, and according to a previous announcement, the topics to be discussed will include a potential precautionary arrangement with Serbia.

The IMF delegation led by Zuzana Murgasova will conclude the visit on March 13, the Belgrade office released, without specifying the topic of the talks.

According to a previous announcement, the talks will address the conditions of entering into a precautionary arrangement, along with a review of the situation in Serbia's public finances.

Finance Minister Lazar Krstic said in late January that the arrival of an IMF mission to Serbia during an election campaign was a precedent and a sign of trust that the state will continue with the reforms.

"The IMF missions generally do not come during election campaigns or in the period ahead of elections, so this is an important sign of trust in the Serbian state that we will carry out the reforms we have initiated. I believe that the negotiations will be difficult, but we have a goal and we will pursue it - to enter into an arrangement with the IMF," said Krstic.

The previous arrangement between Serbia and the IMF was concluded in late September 2011, and frozen in February next year, as the 2012 state budget deviated from the agreed fiscal program.