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 these comments through a video message in the Serbian language, in which 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 over the people, intimidating the masses and encouraging criminals from the Serbian head of state,” said the prime minister. When you.
He said that the Central Bank of Kosovo has provided facilities for the conversion of dinars to euros to the People's Bank of Serbia and has ensured the opening of bank accounts in euros for those who have not yet done so, free of charge.
“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.
The video message of Prime Minister Albin Kurti followed the 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 suspend the implementation of the decision of the Central Bank immediately, 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 of last week in harsh tones between the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia in the Security Council of the United Nations Organization and with calls from Western ambassadors for the parties to refrain from unilateral actions that could lead to the escalation of the situation.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused the authorities in Kosovo that their actions are making the life of Serbs impossible.
Serbian citizens living in Kosovo receive their salaries and pensions from Serbia in Serbian dinars, which are used for payments in Serb-majority areas, especially in the north of the country.