Larson gives US support for Serbian government reforms

Belgrade, Feb 11, 2004 - Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic, Minister of Finance and Economy Bozidar Djelic, Minister of International Economic Relations Goran Pitic and Minister of Privatisation and Economy Aleksandar Vlahovic met with US Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs Alan Larson and his associates in Belgrade on Wednesday.

Larson gave the US administration's support for the Serbian government's reforms. Voicing his concern with the reaffirmation of political forces from the Slobodan Milosevic regime, the senior economic advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell said he hopes that Serbia will soon form a stable, democratic government which will resume reforms and efforts to integrate the country into European institutions.

The two sides agreed that they have significantly improved bilateral cooperation over the past three years, particularly with the restoration of normal trade relations.

The meeting also focused on Serbia's cooperation with the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague, which the participants described as satisfactory. The Serbian delegation, however, expressed concern with the international community's growing demands and conditions.

Larson is the highest level US economic policy official to visit Belgrade since October 5, 2000.