By Matthew Price BBC correspondent in Belgrade

The announcement that the US was unblocking millions of came and went with scarcely a mutter in Belgrade's cafes and restaurants.

To be honest I think this is rubbish

Belgrade resident

Of more importance was the fact that the sun started shining again after a couple of days of rain.

People are generally fed up with America and what many see as its bullying tactics.

Back in March the US announced that it would withhold aid until it was sure that the authorities in Belgrade were co-operating with the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.

Djindjic has complied with US requests for action

Now the US has reactivated the $40 million package, saying it is satisfied Belgrade is now working with the Hague. In the past few weeks a number of war crimes suspects have handed themselves in.

There was no immediate official reaction in Belgrade to Colin Powell's announcement. Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic - in Washington meeting Mr Powell - was certainly be pleased. However many of his citizens are less sure.

"To be honest I think this is rubbish." That was the verdict of Ana, a 29-year-old living in the city. "They always promise money, but we never see it. What we need is not one donation, but something to revive the economy."

How do we ordinary people profit from it?

Dragan

Ana's words will strike a chord with many here. Much money has been pledged by the international community over the last few years, but people have seen little change in their living circumstances.

Another Belgrade resident, 42 year-old Dragan, summed it up nicely: "How do we ordinary people profit from it? It's not that I'm blaming the government, but little has changed. Who else should I blame?"

Most agree that the $40 million itself is of little practical help.

Slobodan Milosevic still has his supporters in Belgrade

Suggest that it's a nice little boost to the economy, and they throw back the billions of dollars of damage they estimate was inflicted on Yugoslavia when Nato bombed the area during the Kosovo conflict in 1999.

There is of course a wider significance to the news.

Washington has sent a clear signal to other potential investors that it will not stand in their way. In a country where unemployment is high and investment low that is likely to be welcomed.

"This is extremely important," 36-year-old Zoran told me shortly after the news broke. Then he too voiced the feelings of many in this proud city.

"There are so many conditions imposed on us by the States I just fear this will be a case of 'do one more thing for us, and then we'll give you the money'."