MOSCOW. Jan 11 (Interfax) - Russia and Serbia are discussing the possibility of a $1 billion financial credit for budget stabilization being extended to the latter, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told the press after a meeting with Serbian Finance Minister Mladan Dinkic.
"We talked today about possible terms for the extension of a credit, and agreed to address middle-term budget plans and work this question through," Siluanov said.
Dinkic said negotiations for the credit have begun, expressing the hope that they will be conducted at the working level successfully and concluded sometime in the near future.
Serbia would like to receive the credit this year, Siluanov said. The two countries have agreed to meet again in two weeks' time and discuss the possibility of the credit's extension. This question has to be worked out with business so as to honor Russian business interest in the privatization of any properties in Serbia and investments in that country.