The NBS Head Office Building was built from 1888 – 1890, on the basis of blueprints designed by Konstantin Jovanovic (Vienna 1849 – Zurich 1923), son to distinguished artist Anastas Jovanovic...
After several years of negotiations with foreign commercial banks (2002-2004), a framework agreement with London Club creditors was signed on 7 July 2004 – “Memorandum of Understanding on Debt Restructuring under the NFA and TDFA between the Republic of Serbia and the International Coordinating Committee”, which envisages a write-off of approximately 62% of the debt, a repayment period of 20 years and a grace period of 5 years. The Memorandum was ratified on 24 July 2004.
Pursuant to the provisions of the framework agreement, in early April 2005, after the accompanying legal documents were signed, the debt of the Republic of Serbia was exchanged for approximately USD 1,020 million worth of bonds listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
Following the completion of legal and technical activities related to the exchange of the Republic of Serbia’s debt in respect of the remaining debt to London Club creditors, in late September 2005 an additional bond issue worth approximately USD 57 million was released under the same terms as the initial issue.
Bonds were issued in accordance with the Law on Debt Restructuring under the NFA and TDFA by Issuing Government Bonds of the Republic of Serbia, which envisages the total issue of government bonds in the amount of up to USD 1,080 million.
By signing the agreement with London Club creditors, the Republic of Serbia for the first time reached an agreement on the write-off of debt with this category of creditors and obtained a credit rating for bonds from S&P and Fitch.
The Republic of Serbia has, via the National Bank of Serbia as its agent, regularly serviced debt on these securities twice a year – interest starting from 1 May 2005 and principal starting from May 2010.
For the purpose of fiscal consolidation in the medium run and saving on interest, the Republic of Serbia decided to prematurely settle debt to the London Club creditors. Early payments were made in line with the Conclusions of the Serbian Government: 30 April 2013 – USD 400 mn, 31 October 2016 – USD 100 mn, and 30 April 2018 – USD 159 mn.
By making the above payments, the Republic of Serbia settled its entire debt to the London Club creditors as at 30 April 2018.
The Agreed Minutes on the Consolidation of the FR Yugoslavia Debt to Paris Club Creditors was signed in Paris in December 2001. This document provided a basis for bilateral negotiations with each of the Paris Club member countries separately, which resulted in the signing of bilateral agreements with 17 countries (Denmark, Sweden, Spain, The Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Canada, Norway, Belgium, France, The United Kingdom, Switzerland, USA, Russian Federation, Finland, Japan and Italy).
The National Bank of Serbia, in cooperation with commercial banks, completed a complex procedure of debt reconciliation which preceded the conclusion of bilateral agreements.
The conclusion of the three-year Extended Fund Facility Arrangement with the International Monetary Fund in 2002 paved the way for the implementation of the first phase of debt write-off in the amount of 51%. The condition for the successful implementation of the second phase of debt write-off was met in February 2006 when, following the IMF’s positive assessment of the three-year Arrangement, the Secretariat of the Paris Club approved an additional 15% debt reduction for this category of creditors, effective as of 6 February 2006.
After the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro was dissolved in June 2006, bilateral agreements were amended, enabling the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro to settle their individual obligations to the Paris Club creditors.
