The decision to ban the dinar, the governor: This is a fight against money laundering and terrorism

Kosovo Central Bank Governor Ahmet Ismaili has provided details about the new BQC's regulation for cash cash operations that went into effect from February 1st 2024. According to the Orders, the only currency allowed for handling payments in Kosovo is euros.

This decision was criticised by the international community, while for this the governor of Kosovo Central Bank and “visited” the EU ambassador to Kosovo and the United States of America.

Ismaili on the “show, Calxon Permime” said that it is not dignified to discuss just one point of regulation when it generally contains 50 articles

This arrangement addresses a number of important aspects. The minimisation that is being done only in a specific disk as it is for the use of only euro currency is undignified because the regulation has 50 articles” he said.

The BEC governor said the main motives for the decision related to the ban on the Serbian dinar as a payment tool in Kosovo is the fight against money laundering, terrorism and strengthening the integrity of the financial system.

Ismaili said failing to act on the issue would be a greater responsibility than the action.

This is not a personal but institutional motive. Being the governor of the CEC, having responsibilities, being familiar with the situation is unacceptable if we hadn't taken action. I think that in the situation that we have been inaction it would have been a greater responsibility than the” action -- the governor said.

Governor Ismaili has said in “Calxon Pernime” that the dinar issue was also mentioned at a meeting in Brussels, when it had been the Treasury director at the time, but that Brussels had left the matter in Kosovo's hands.

Before this position, I was head of the Treasury, we've been through this case. Even at a meeting in Brussels, where, in terms of implementing through agreements, an illegal financing that Serbia has made over the years, where the Finance Law has allowed Serbia without restrictions on Serb municipalities legally, our laws have been changed for this where a bank has functioned and a trust development fund has not been used in spite of that. Serbia has transferred money money. That money has come to the border through the carriers, and more than 10,000 euros have been issued. It's a question: Why didn't this money come through the bank but across borders? The discussion was inside the Treasury, and that's why we talked about it in Brussels. Such reporting as being introduced has posed a risk to financing terrorism, money laundering, organised crime, discussion has been that this is the subject for Kosovo” he said.