Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic said today that he is optimistic about the start of the talks with the IMF Mission on 17 May, during which there will be discussion on an increase of salaries in the public sector as of September.

Dinkic said that negotiations with the IMF have always been difficult, but also that representatives of this international financial institution always support their positions with good arguments.

Speaking of compensation in the amount of €36 million that Serbia should pay to Israel for the contract on satellite purchase, the Minister recalled that the proceedings were initiated by the judicial authorities and that now their response is awaited.

He commended the proposal by Minister of Defence Dragan Sutanovac to settle this debt with Israel and use these funds to purchase something which Serbia needs.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that over the next few months he expects to see the financial effects of this week’s visit by a Serbian delegation to Azerbaijan, led by Serbian President Boris Tadic.

Dinkic stressed that both countries are interested in cooperation and that Azerbaijan recorded a 9% growth rate, which can be beneficial to Serbia if the country opens its door to Serbian businesspeople.