Kurti: Kosovo has not banned the Serbian dinar, but its introduction in bags through the border

2024-02-11 21:32:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kurti: Kosovo has not banned the Serbian dinar, but its introduction in bags

Albin Kurti

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said on Sunday that the regulation of the Central Bank does not prohibit Serbia from financially helping the citizens of the Serbian community in Kosovo, and according to him, any statement to the contrary is false propaganda aimed at creating ethnic tensions.

He made the comments through a video message in the Serbian language, where he said that Kosovo has not banned the Serbian dinar, but its introduction in bags through the border.

"Until now, the way of introducing and transporting money across borders allowed criminal groups to receive illegally imported money, thereby strengthening their influence on the people, frightening the masses and encouraging criminals from the head of the Serbian state," Prime Minister Kurti said.

He said that the Central Bank of Kosovo has offered the People's Bank of Serbia facilities for converting dinars into euros and has ensured the opening of bank accounts in euros free of charge for those who have not yet done so.

"Through them, aid to the Serbian community, sent by the government of Belgrade, received in euros and registered through the bank account can be received for the sake of transparency and establishing legality. In this way, the amount of money sent from Belgrade will exactly match the money you will receive in Kosovo", said Prime Minister Kurti, underlining that his government will do everything to enable an easy transitional period through information campaigns.

"The most important thing is to understand and believe that the establishment of the rule of law is inevitable, the sending of money through bank transactions is uncompromising and the enjoyment of the rights acquired so far freely, by the state authorities in Kosovo, is a necessary part of guaranteeing the freedom of all citizens to receive any financial assistance from any party or authority that comes through legal channels", said Prime Minister Kurti in his video message to Kosovo Serbs.

Prime Minister Kurti's message follows Western pressure on Kosovo for a transitional period regarding the implementation of the decision to use the Euro as the only currency in Kosovo.

The United States and the European Union in several cases asked the government of Kosovo to immediately suspend the implementation of the Central Bank's decision, showing concern that the issue could trigger new tensions.

The authorities in Kosovo have agreed on a transitional period to clarify and avoid ambiguities about the Central Bank's regulation that prohibits the use of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo, but without giving a time limit for it. The issue of the Serbian dinar was discussed on Thursday last week in harsh tones between the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia at the United Nations Security Council and with calls from Western ambassadors for the parties to refrain from unilateral actions that could lead towards the escalation of the situation.

The Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, accused the authorities in Kosovo of making the lives of Serbs difficult with their actions.

Serbian citizens living in Kosovo receive their salaries and pensions from Serbia in Serbian dinars, which are used for payments in areas with a Serbian majority, especially in the north of the country./ Voa