US urges Kosovo to reconsider decision on abolition of Serbia’s dinar

We are concerned that the regulation adopted on December 27 will negatively impact the ethnic Serb community in Kosovo, a spokesperson of the US Embassy to Kosovo said in a reply to Radio Free Europe (RFE),  said Beta.

The Kosovo Government should consult with the affected communities, and provide ample time for its decisions to be implemented in order to mitigate the impact those decisions will have on its citizens, said the spokesperson.

Kosovo’s Central Bank said on January 17 that, as of February 1, the euro will be the only currency allowed for payments in the country. It said that this decision was based on the Kosovo Constitution and laws.

On the other hand, this creates problems for Serbia to provide financial assistance to the Serb community in Kosovo, in the form of salaries, children’s allowances and welfare. Until now, these payments from the Serbian budget were made in dinars, reported Beta.