National Bank of Serbia Governor Resigns

Belgrade, March 25, 2010 (Source : Beta) - National Bank of Serbia Governor Radovan Jelasic submitted his resignation to the bank's Council yesterday, the central bank said in a news release. According to the news release, in a note to Council Chairman Dejan Soskic, Governor Jelasic said the resignation was irrevocable and he was submitting it for personal reasons. "I request that, in line with the Law on the National Bank of Serbia, you launch a process before the Serbian parliament's Finance Committee, which will determine that conditions have been created for the cessation of the duty of governor before the end of his mandate," Jelasic said in his resignation. Jelasic previously told a news conference that he will occupy the post of governor until the parliament appoints a new one, adding that he will not change his decision. The governor also said he has already informed Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and President Boris Tadic of his decision, and the two officials marked his work so far positively. Jelasic added he does not have a new job offer and has yet to decide where he will work in the future and whether he will stay in Serbia. The parliament appointed Jelasic as governor for the first time on Feb. 25, 2004. After the adoption of the new Constitution and Constitutional Law on Sept. 26, 2007, Jelasic was given a new five-year mandate. Prime Minister Cvetkovic said that he was sorry to see Jelasic resign. Cvetkovic told BETA that Jelasic had told him he would resign, but had not gone into detail regarding the personal reasons for this. He added that relations between the central bank and the government have been good, despite occasional disagreements, which were resolved "in a constructive manner."