Opposition Official Asks Why Belgrade Assembly Isn't Reviewing IMF's Warning About City's Financial Situation

Stefan Simic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

Movement of Free Citizens delegate in the Belgrade City Assembly Stefan Simic said that at an Assembly session on June 25 a debate on the International Monetary Fund's warning that the City of Belgrade "poses a fiscal risk to Serbia" and its demand that an independent audit of Belgrade's financial situation be conducted by August was not on the agenda even though this is the most important indicator of the capital's financial situation.

He said that Belgrade city officials are avoiding a discussion on this subject, that they are ignoring the IMF's warning, as well as that they refused to cooperate with the Serbian Cabinet on performing an independent audit of their business dealings.

"Aleksandar Sapic, the Belgrade city mayor, refused to allow the Serbian Cabinet to examine the documents needed to perform the audit of the city's business dealings that was requested by the IMF. I ask him to give the public an answer as well as to why, in their opinion, the IMF voiced its concern over the way that the city's finances are being led," Simic was quoted as saying by the Movement.

He recalled that over the past several years domestic auditors had also pointed to irregularities in the City's financial dealings.  He said that the IMF wanted to know whether planned investments in the next three year are sustainable, how large-scale projects will be financed, what the situation in public companies is, and are payments to suppliers late.