The US State Department (Dash) said on Thursday that Kosovo’s “unilateral” decision to implement a regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo – which stipulates that only the euro currency be used for cash payments throughout the country – limits the USA’s ability to advocate for Kosovo in the international arena.
Despite all the international pressure, Kosovo started implementing the regulation on February 1, which ends the use of the Serbian dinar in the country, albeit through an undefined period of eased transition.
“Good governance and good international partnership require time to assess the consequences, to listen to perspectives and to consult with each other to find a workable solution,” told DASH for Radio Free Europe.
DASH called on Kosovo to postpone the implementation of this decision “immediately”, until, as it said, satisfactory procedures are established in accordance with European standards and the population is sufficiently educated on how the transition period will continue.
“The decision was announced without adequate preparation or consultation,” said DASH.
“The United States is deeply disappointed and opposes Kosovo’s current plans to continue with the implementation of the decision to limit the import of foreign currencies, including the Serbian dinar.”
Since the post-war in 1999, Serbia, which does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, has used the dinar to pay pensions, social benefits and salaries for parallel institutions in Kosovo, including hospitals and schools.
Residents of ten municipalities with a Serbian majority in Kosovo have also used the dinar for payments in shops and restaurants.
DASH said that many Kosovar citizens do not know how they will pay their bills, or how they will receive their pensions.
“This action is also not in line with Kosovo’s commitment to work through dialogue mediated by the EU, to address the issues that affect the well-being of the Serbian minority”, emphasized DASH.
Earlier in the day, the American ambassador to Kosovo said after a meeting with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, that the USA opposes the implementation of the decision on the regulation and expressed concern about its impact on the Kosovo Serbs.
