Strauss-Kahn: Reforms a social responsibility of Serbia

BELGRADE - It is clear that Serbia has started modernising its finances, reforming its tax administration and reducing its budgetary deficit, the Serbian government's economic advisor Dominique Strauss-Kahn has said.

Some reforms are popular sometimes, some are less so, but the huge unemployment is still so unpopular that reforms deserve support - this is not a political issue, but a social responsibility, Blic quoted Strauss-Kahn on Tuesday as saying.

He said that, with his colleagues from the ARJIL merchant bank, he has been helping Serbia cut costs and its public debt even further.

Teams are conducting detailed work with the Serbian administration to prepare technical solutions that would allow Serbia to continue to manage its debt in a more modern way with lower costs and pursuant to the best international standards, he said.

Strauss-Kahn, a former director of the International Monetary Fund, said that he and his colleagues at ARJIL are also providing assistance to Serbia regarding its relations with creditors and international financial institutions, advising the government on how to improve its fiscal deficit situation and manage the public debt.

He said that Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has started fulfilling his promises.

Comparatively speaking, Serbia's rating remained almost the same throughout the economic crisis, unlike those of regional countries, which plummeted despite being higher in the beginning, Strauss-Kahn also said.

Photo Tanjug, S. Radovanovic (Archive)