Vucic: Discussions with IMF difficult, NIS biggest risk

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday he had had difficult discussions with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission earlier in the day and that the topics had included the issue of Serbia's Russian-owned oil company NIS, which he noted was the "biggest risk" and crucial for Serbia.

"The discussions with the IMF were difficult - certainly not easy - and, for us, it is important that they confirm the arrangement on Thursday, and on December 19 - on St Nicholas's Day - their main Board needs to confirm that in Washington. It is very important for us, because of the credit rating and everything else. There are risks, NIS being the biggest one, of course, and that is crucial for us," Vucic said.

He also said there were two more risks.

"But we are able to control those two risks. So I cannot say the news is good - the discussions were good, difficult - not easy - but useful," Vucic told reporters at the Serbian Progressive Party headquarters in Belgrade.