Zrenjanin, September 5, 2001 (Beta) - Serbian Finance and Economy Minister Bozidar Djelic stated in Zrenjanin on Wednesday, September 5, that the state of public budget revenues in Serbia was markedly improved thanks to the Serbian government's fight against cigarette and petroleum smuggling.

He said that he learned today from cigarette distributors in Vojvodina that cigarette trade had risen by 88% in the last year, while the sale of domestic cigarettes had increased by 120%.

- Accusations that the Serbian government eases conditions for cigarette smuggling in Kosovo-Metohija are ridiculous. The Government introduced decrees on trade with Kosovo-Metohija and certain rules must be brought into force, although we have to accept the reality, at least for now, that UNMIK is responsible for laws in the province - Djelic stated in answer to accusations by the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).