The European Union confirmed on Friday that the chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia will meet on March 19 in Brussels to discuss the issue of the use of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo, which has become a topic of disagreement between the government in Pristina and Western diplomacy.
“First, to continue the discussions started a few weeks ago on the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo regarding the dinar and there will be other topics of discussion between the chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels”, said the spokesperson of the European Commission, Peter Stano.
This is the first time that government officials are expected to participate in the discussions on the issue of the Serbian dinar, as they have so far refused on the grounds that this is not the topic of the dialogue taking place in Brussels. Officials of the Central Bank of Kosovo participated in last month's meeting from Kosovo.
A regulation by this bank, according to which the euro is the only currency that can be used for cash payments in Kosovo, prompted an angry reaction from Belgrade, and Western concerns about its impact on the lives of Kosovo Serbs, who continue to be financially supported by Serbia.
The American envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, expressed hope on Thursday after a meeting with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, that his government will find a solution regarding the use of the Serbian dinar, while stressing that relations between the two countries are being challenged by the treatment of the Serbian minority in Kosovo.
The United States has emphasized that the lack of coordination by the Kosovo government regarding this issue has affected the quality of the partnership between the two governments and has warned Pristina that disagreements hinder their commitment to help Kosovo's progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
The Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti wrote on social networks that he informed Mr. Escobar about the steps taken by the government to support a transitional period for the implementation of the decision of the Central Bank.
Western diplomats have called on the government of Kosovo to suspend the regulation of the Central Bank and to give time to the affected citizens to adapt to the new situation.