U.S. concerned about the dinar case: This tells of the government's inability to serve its citizens

In an interview for Voice of America, O'Brien has expressed concern about the US's implementation of the decision, saying Serbian citizens have remained confused about how to pay for food, rent and electricity, following the exclusion of the Serbian dinar.

According to him, it shows the government's inability to serve its citizens, but also its partnership.

“This is a matter of partnership and ability in government. All the problems that have been faced since this decision was announced were identified in the first 5-10 minutes after we learned about it. However, the government continued with its unannounced implementation and has left a number of its citizens confused about how to pay for bread, rent and electricity, which some have just begun to pay. This is not the form of effective governance. We are very concerned, as this shows the government's inability to serve its citizens, but also its partnership. Being part of Europe today means solving issues through dialogue with effective planning and warning. This decision has been announced hastily, without warning, and without an attempt to exploit existing mechanisms for answers to all problems that could arise”, the American diplomat said.

The regulation of the CEC, which stipulates that the euro is the only currency that can be used for cash payments available throughout the country came into force on February 1st, despite the international community's calls for delaying its implementation and opposition by Kosovo Serbs.

On Monday, the CEC announced that the transition phase of its regulation implementation will last up to three months, while Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said Kosovo would not give up the decision to ban the dinar for cash payments, but that it is respecting the international community's demands on the issue.

 

 

On Monday, Serbs protested in northern Mitrovica against the Kosovo authorities' decision to ban the use of the Serbian dinar for payment.

Serbia has sharply criticised the BEC regulation, interpreting it as the goal of the Government of Kosovo to expel Serbs. The Serbian state allocates millions of euros to Serbs in Kosovo after paying them through a parallel system of salaries, pensions and additional aid.

Serbia's People's Bank has long sent dinars to a safe in the municipality of Leposaviqi in northern Kosovo, and they have been transported by the international company Henderson.

The CEC has said such a practice is illegal, since only it can make export and import of coins and bank notes within Kosovo's territory.

The Kosovo government has said Serbs will be able to open accounts, free of charge, where they can carry their money into dinars, which will then be converted to euros to pay payments.