Latest News from Serbia
Serbia Against Violence walks out of meeting on ODIHR recommendations
BELGRADE - Representatives of the opposition Serbia Against Violence coalition walked out of Thursday's meeting with the ruling coalition on implementation of ODIHR recommendations.
At a press conference in the lobby of the parliament building, the representatives did not elaborate on whether they would take part in further dialogue on the matter.
World Bank revises upward its 2024 growth projection for Serbia to 3.5 pct
BELGRADE - The World Bank has revised upward its 2024 GDP growth projection for Serbia from 3 pct to 3.5 pct.
At a presentation of the institution's regular economic report for the Western Balkans, World Bank Senior Economist Lazar Sestovic said the projection had been revised following an increase in investments that was expected to result in slightly stronger economic growth.
Brnabic meets with Borg
BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic met with OSCE Chairman and Maltese FM Ian Borg in Belgrade on Wednesday.
Brnabic informed Borg she had invited all parliamentary parties to another round of discussions on implementation of recommendations by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), scheduled for Thursday.
Purchase of Rafale jets no violation of Serbia's military neutrality - MoD
BELGRADE - The Serbian Ministry of Defence dismissed on Wednesday as "extremely unfounded and incompetent" allegations that a purchase of 12 new Rafale multirole fighter jets was a violation of Serbia's military neutrality, and noted that such claims were aimed at generating artificial publicity and deceiving the public.
Serbia registers 5.3 bln dinar budget surplus in January-February
BELGRADE - Between January and February this year, Serbia saw a 5.3 bln dinar budget surplus, which is 52 bln dinars better than a planned 46.7 bln deficit.
According to figures released by the Ministry of Finance, a 24.9 bln dinar deficit was registered in February alone.
In February 2024, revenues totalled 158.6 bln dinars, while expenditures amounted to 183.5 bln dinars.
Serbian February public debt at 48.7 pct of GDP
BELGRADE - Serbia's public debt rose by 26.3 bln dinars to 4,268.1 bln dinars (36.4 bln euros) in February, accounting for 47.8 pct of GDP.
According to figures released by the Public Debt Administration of the Serbian Ministry of Finance, foreign currencies accounted for 77.7 pct of the total public debt at end-February.
Djokovic breezes past Safiulin at Monte Carlo Masters
MONTE CARLO - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, the world number one in men's tennis singles, has made a storming start to the clay court season by beating Russian Roman Safiulin 6-1, 6-2 in the Monte Carlo Masters second round.
Djokovic, who won after just 69 minutes of play, is now 2-0 head-to-head against Safiulin.
Vucevic: Heroes of Kosare an impenetrable rampart of our freedom
BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy PM and Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said on Tuesday the heroes of the 1999 Battle of Kosare in Kosovo-Metohija "were, and remained, an impenetrable rampart of our freedom."
On the 25th anniversary of the battle, Vucevic said the heroes of Kosare had risen to the "immortal ranks" of "our ancestors."
Mali: Serbia registering positive growth rates
PARIS - In spite of the corona virus pandemic and the current energy crisis, Serbia has been, and is, succeeding in registering positive growth rates, as indicated by last year's 2.5 pct GDP growth, Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said in Paris on Tuesday.
The plan is for Serbia's GDP to exceed 100 bln euros in 2027, Mali said at a meeting of a Serbia-France business council.