Head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission to Serbia Albert Jaeger said Wednesday that the IMF Executive Board will complete the fifth review under Serbia's stand-by credit arrangement on September 27, and that the fiscal responsibility bill must be sent to the parliament before that date in order to the country to get a positive review.

At a news conference at the Serbian government offices, Jaeger pointed out that if its economic performance is rated positively, Serbia will be able to draw EUR 380 million to support its foreign exchange reserves.

He pointed out that the IMF still expects Serbia to record an economic growth of 1.5 percent in 2010, and added that the rest of 2010 and 2011 will probably be difficult for its citizens.

Jaeger stressed that unemployment in Serbia has risen sharply during the recession and that this trend could continue in 2011.

Export based growth, low inflation and a rational fiscal policy are some positive signs pointing to economic recovery, Jaeger said.