Vujovic: Deficit expected to be "slightly over 80 bln dinars"

Dusan Vujovic - Photo: FONET

BELGRADE - The general government balance is stable and the deficit is expected to be slightly over 80 bln dinars (approx $720 mln) by the end of the year - half of what had been planned, Finance Minister Dusan Vujovic said Tuesday.

"That shows we have worked carefully and that we are trying to be realistic in our projections," Vujovic told a press conference following discussions with the IMF on the sixth review under Serbia's precautionary stand-by arrangement with the institution.

Serbia has turned things around in the dynamics of economic growth, which proves that it is on the right track, he said.

"With the good performance we have achieved, the entire business environment is improving. Now it is also the time to deal with the gas and electricity debts as otherwise the financial discipline will collapse. All that is required to...