An International Monetary Fund mission has concluded a visit to Serbia without reaching an agreement on an installment of a (EURO)2.9 billion ($4 billion) standby loan, but talks will continue.

The IMF mission says it was agreed “to continue the dialogue with a view to reaching a staff-level agreement soon on completing the 6th review” of the April 2009 loan.

Mission chief Albert Jaeger said in a statement Friday the discussions mostly had focused on fiscal policy. He says talks on the 2011 budget could not be finalized even as they “advanced significantly.”

Jaeger says Serbia’s performance “has been broadly on track.” He says, though, that higher inflation is a concern.

Serbia sought IMF help after global crisis caused a drop in foreign investment.

November 05, 2010
Associated Press

• A Permanent Economic Emergency