The American ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, said that the decision of the Central Bank of Kosovo not to allow payments in Kosovo with the Serbian dinar was an “unnecessary surprise”. According to him, the United States and the European Union “are closely monitoring and analyzing the development of the situation”.

According to Ambassador Hill, an important phase of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is underway, and that surprises and issues that are not of common interest should be avoided, Radio Television of Serbia reported.

“We think that the most important thing now is the formation of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority, but also that Kosovo be given the opportunity to join international institutions. We need to focus on these and avoid topics that are not of common interest,” said Hill.

On January 17, the Central Bank of Kosovo approved a regulation on cash operations, according to which, the only currency allowed for carrying out cash payment transactions in Kosovo is the euro.

In Kosovo, in all Serbian-majority settlements, the population there uses the Serbian dinar to make payments, and those who work in Serbian institutions in Kosovo also receive their salaries in dinars. Pensions are also paid with dinars, according to the Serbian system, as well as child allowances and social benefits.

Also, in areas where Serbs live, dinars are used in commercial facilities, while in the four municipalities with a Serbian majority in the north, prices are in dinars.

In the CBK regulation, it was said that non-euro currencies can only be used to be stored “in physical form or in bank accounts” and international payments can be made with them and these currencies can also be used for exchange.