“Not working with us” - Escobar “

The US envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said the Government of Kosovo, with the failure to meet the American demand for the Serbian dinar issue, is not treating Washington as a partner.

I don't want to talk about all the consequences, but I think our public statements have clearly shown where our diplomatic and political reports are going. We are very concerned because the Government of Kosovo is not treating us as partners, they do not work with us for regional stability and undermine dialogue, the process for which the US is fully dedicated. I think the [American Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey] Hovenier has said the best: it complicates our capacity to help Kosovo integrate into the transatlantic community”, Escobar said in an interview given to the Voice of America in the Serbian language.

A new Kosovo Central Bank regulation, which envisions only the euro being the currency for handling cash payments, has entered into force since 1 February.

The US has called for delaying the implementation of this decision, arguing it has been adopted without preliminary consultations and without taking the negative impacts on the Serb community in Kosovo, which uses Serbia's national currency.

Escobar said the non-recognition of American demands makes it difficult for the US to help Kosovo membership in international organisations, including the Council of Europe, NATO and the European Union.

“Every time we talk about Kosovo with other partners, separately with those who do not recognise it, they see that Kosovo does not fulfil its obligations of dialogue that is under the EU umbrella, representing the entire EU. Therefore, it becomes difficult to defend Kosovo's arguments, including EU and NATO membership, in the Council of Europe and in many other organisations”, Escobar said.

According to the senior American official, Kosovo must implement the agreement reached in the Brussels dialogue for the establishment of the Association of Serb majority municipalities. He said that through this association, the issue of using the Serbian dinar could be resolved.

Escobar said a solution to the dinar through association would have to be made through a transparent process and in line with Kosovo's laws.

Earlier this month, US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia James O'Brien, has declared that the US may not treat Kosovo as a partner if it makes decisions without consulting it.

Following this statement by senior US official, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has declared that no partnership with the US is being jeopardised.

But, the US ambassador to Pristina, Jeff Hovenier, has said the dinar ban decision has only affected the quality of reports between the US and the Government of Kosovo.

Meanwhile, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said earlier Friday that the issue of stopping the Serbian dinar in Kosovo could be resolved within the country and that it did not have to cause clashes between Pristina and its allies.

The Serbian state allocates millions of euros to Serbs in Kosovo after paying them in dinars through a parallel system of salaries, pensions and additional aid.

The CEC has said the regulation will be implemented through a relaxed transition, which will last no more than three months. Meanwhile, Kosovo executives have said they will soon come up with a list of ten measures related to ways that citizens should not be harmed during the transitional phase of implementation of the decision. / REL