The chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia are meeting on Monday in Brussels to discuss with the envoy of the European Union Miroslav Lajcak, regarding the use of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo.
Today's meeting is a continuation of last Tuesday when the parties promised to come up with new proposals to solve the situation created after the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo, according to which the euro is the only currency that can be used for ready payments in Kosovo. The regulation, which came into force on February 1, prompted an angry reaction from Belgrade, and concerns of Western diplomacy about its impact on the lives of Kosovo Serbs who continue to be financially supported by Belgrade, as well as on tensions between the parties.
Neither of them has given any details about the proposals they may have made to resolve this issue.
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. This issue has become a topic of disagreement between the government in Pristina and Western diplomacy.
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.
The US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O'Brien, said last week that the United States is a strong supporter of Kosovo's ambitions to become part of the international community and hopes that the Kosovo government will take action in the following days that are in accordance with the requirements of this community, including the regulation of the Central Bank for the prohibition of the use of the Serbian dinar for cash payments in Kosovo. Mr. O'Brien said that the friends of Kosovo want this regulation to be reconsidered.