Deliu Kodra: Kosovo's has the luxury to play with US reports, this Government must go home

Deliu Kodra said this statement was no surprise, as she says, the Kurti Government has by its actions damaged Kosovo's reports with the friendly states.

The MP has indicated it is unacceptable for a Government to jeopardise reports with international allies.

“Unfortunately, I have to say that even this statement was no surprise to us, though it was very painful. This government, through its irresponsible actions for three years, has seriously damaged Kosovo's reports with friendly states and specifically those with the US. The US role and contribution to Kosovo's freedom and independence is irreplaceable and our people will live eternally grateful lives. It's incredible, not tolerated at the same time, for a Government to risk these reports.”, she said.

Deliu Kodra commenting on O'Brien's statement, said these reproofs do not result from a Kosovo Government mistake, but as a result of an already official government stance, which according to it, goes against state interests.

It has reaffirmed the PDK's stance that the government led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti and the Vetevendosje Movement should go home as soon as possible.

According to her, Kosovo does not have the luxury to play with these reports.

“Now, if Assistant- US Secretary of State James O'Brien has been publicly obliged to make such a warning statement to the Government of Kosovo, imagine how much this prime minister and that power had to disrupt the job. So these reproofs do not result from a Kosovo Government mistake, but as a result of an already official government stance, which goes against the interests of the state of Kosovo first and then against reports with our friends. So we say that this government, the day before, has to go home. Kosovo does not have the luxury of playing with these reports, which have been built with great effort. Beyond that, today, Kosovo citizens live worse than three years ago, until our country has taken no step forward on the path to Euro-Atlantic integration”, Deliu Kodra told the signal.

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.

In an interview for Voice of America, O'Brien has said that with the position on the dinar issue, the Government of Kosovo has questioned the partnership with the United States.

“I don't make bad threats in public. I would say, that if we are not treated as partners, we will not treat the Kosovo government as partners”, he said.

He has expressed US concern about implementing the decision, saying Serbian citizens have remained confused about how to pay for bread, 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 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.