“We do not ban Serbian dinars, folks can have Serbian dinars, however the one technique of fee is the euro,” Kurti instructed AFP.
This month, Kosovo officers mentioned they have been introducing the euro because the nation’s foreign money and ending using neighboring Serbia’s dinar within the north of the nation, house to nearly all of the ethnic Serb minority.
Most of Kosovo makes use of the euro, though the nation will not be a part of the EU. Nonetheless, the dinar continued for use within the northern a part of Kosovo, which is predominantly ethnic Serb. Lots of them depend on monetary assist from the Serbian authorities, usually in money dinars.
In early February, Kosovo authorities guidelines got here into drive banning the world’s banks and different monetary establishments from utilizing different currencies for native transactions. The Central Financial institution of Kosovo introduced the brand new guidelines final summer time.
This resolution precipitated the priority of Western nations, who concern much more rigidity in Kosovo’s relations with Serbia.
The latter criticized Pristina for the brand new order.
Nonetheless, A. Kurti mentioned that in an effort to facilitate the applying of the brand new process, a month-long transitional interval was established.
“Our objective is to not punish or shock residents, we would like them to get entangled,” the prime minister added.
On Wednesday, Serbia accused Kosovo of blocking the supply of dinars on the border crossing, days following Pristina introduced the brand new order.
“The Nationwide Financial institution of Serbia strongly condemns at present’s incident and reiterates the necessity to instantly withdraw the discriminatory, unlawful and outrageous measures,” the Central Financial institution of Serbia mentioned in an announcement.
The financial institution mentioned the remittance was supposed to pay salaries, pensions, social and different advantages to Kosovo Serbs.
Kosovo authorities later reported {that a} Serb automobile approached the border submit and officers have been requested if they may herald dinars. In keeping with the Kosovars, the Serbs have been instructed that solely licensed corporations may deliver the foreign money into the territory.
In 1998-1999, Serbian forces fought with ethnic Albanian separatists within the then province of Kosovo. About 13 thousand folks, principally ethnic Albanians, died earlier than a 78-day NATO bombing marketing campaign pushed out the Serbian forces. Kosovo lastly declared independence in 2008, however the authorities in Belgrade doesn’t acknowledge its neighbor as a separate nation.
Brussels known as on Kosovo to increase the foreign money’s transition interval and “discover a negotiated resolution to this problem by way of an EU-backed dialogue.”
The EU and the US are urgent each nations to implement the agreements reached final yr by Serbian chief Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo’s Prime Minister A. Kurti.
EU mediation has up to now did not make progress between Kosovo and Serbia, notably following a shootout between masked Serb gunmen and Kosovo police final September that killed 4 folks and heightened tensions within the area.
A. Kurti mentioned on Wednesday that he’ll search to normalize relations with Serbia this yr.
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2024-05-19 11:41:52
