(Reuters) Serbia's Prime Minister Zoran Djidnjic, who was named president of the event's organising committee, said FIBA's decision in Munich on Saturday had boosted his nation's global standing.
"I am very pleased, this has made my day. The decision is a great victory for our diplomacy and it reflects our international credibility," Djindjic was quoted as saying by Belgrade's B 92 radio.
FIBA's Yugoslav secretary general Borislav Stankovic told Serbia's RTS state television the decision reflected the international reputation of Yugoslavia's basketball.
"We have a great opportunity to show what basketball and sports in general mean to our country. The Yugoslav Basketball Association (KSJ) has the strength and the manpower to organise this event in the best possible way," he said.
Yugoslavia are the reigning world and European champions. The team were given a hero's welcome in Belgrade last summer after they won the European championship in Turkey.
Yugoslavia will defend their world title in Indianapolis later this year and have been widely tipped as the team most likely to beat a U.S. dream team, who ate yet to taste defeat in any international tournament.
