United Nations

BELGRADE - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic stated in Belgrade on Thursday there is a possibility that salaries and pensions will go up in 2015.

We envisaged a budget deficit of RSD 55 billion for the first quarter with the IMF when we introduced severe measures, but the deficit will not exceed RSD 27 billion, Vucic told a press conference.

The special court trying former Finance Minister Giorgos Papaconstantinou, charged with criminal counts of doctoring a document and of attempted breach of faith, is expected to deliver its verdict on Tuesday afternoon, the state-run Athens Macedonian News Agency has reported.

If found guilty, Papaconstantinou could face a life sentence without extenuating circumstances.

In IMF memorandum, govt. pledges to hike electricity price

BELGRADE -- Under its latest arrangement with the IMF, the Serbian government has pledged to "support EPS in preparing a financial restructuring plan."

In combination with an excise tax, this would result in a 15 percent total increase in the price of electricity for end consumers as of April 1, 2015.

WASHINGTON- Under its latest arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Serbian government has pledged to support Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) in preparing a financial restructuring plan which, in combination with an excise tax, would result in a 15 percent total increase in the price of electricity for end consumers as of April 1, 2015.

Bulgarian economist Iva Petrova will head the IMF technical team to Athens and will participate in the negotiations with the Greek government on behalf of the IMF.

This was confirmed by both IMF spokesman Gerry Rice and Elena Panaritis, who is adviser to Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, private bTV station reports.

"Public sector layoffs to start in July"

BELGRADE -- Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Kori Udovicki stated on Friday that dismissals in the public sector would begin as of July.

BELGRADE - The law on public sector rationalisation will be presented in late April, Serbia's Minister of State and Local Administration Kori Udovicki has told the Belgrade daily Blic.

The law will be adopted according to a conclusion by the government, she noted, but refused to comment on the details.

The International Monetary Fund approved on March 11 a $17.5 billion (15.5 billion euro) aid plan for crisis-wracked Ukraine, whose economy is reeling from a pro-Russia insurgency in its industrial heartland.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a new USD 17.5 B financial aid package for Ukraine to help the country stave off collapse of its economy.

BELGRADE - Members of the Serbian defense ministry and armed forces engaged in the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus were granted the UN medals for their excellent service, the Serbian ministry of defense issued a release on Wednesday.