“It took courage to make a decision which would probably not be to the liking of many in the public sector and set out measures which would affect the lives of Serbian citizens. However, it is evident that the measures are set up to alleviate and eliminate the consequences of the wrong policy pursued in the sphere of economy in the previous decade and the last several years. Privatisations condemned for their level of corruption even by the European Union are one of the reasons why we do not have a healthy economy. Enormous loans and “living on credit” have proved disastrous for the citizens’ standard and domestic production.

The Government’s attempts to change the concept of governance by unpopular measures and finally secure stability which is the most important of prerequisites for investment, is encouraging. Despite the criticism of those most to blame for the dissipation of the Serbian economy who have become the country’s leading tycoons, we have to persevere in the implementation of these measures. The huge public sector is untenable, especially in view of the well-known fact that the salaries of those employed in the real sector are up to 20% lower. Cutting the country’s budget deficit and gradual decrease of the public debt are the only way to secure economic progress and lower budgetary allocations.

I expect the reforms which are to restore the health of our economy and which mean a more equitable division of income and responsibility, especially in the public sector, to ensure better and more equal conditions for everybody in the private sector.”