Everything Heavenier said about the concern the US has about the dinar decision

US Ambassador to Pristina Jeff Hovenier has said Thursday that Kosovo's decision to implement the Kosovo Central Bank regulation to prevent the Serbian dinar has affected the quality of relations between the United States and the Government of Kosovo.

Let me stress how problematic this moment is, that our governments don't seem to be working in partnership with each other. Therefore, I want us to avoid other things like these”, Houvenier told reporters Thursday.

The new regulation of the Kosovo Central Bank, which stipulates that the euro is the only currency that can be used for cash payments across the country entered into force on February 1st.

He said statements by US officials have been constantly clear that Kosovo should postpone the decision to implement the regulation.

“We have hoped that Prime Minister Albin Kurti's government would engage, as partners do, to resolve this issue together, rather than take actions unilaterally... we are concerned that Kurt's Government has not done so. Whatever suggestion things are okay, that we all agree with each other, it's not true at all. We are concerned and frustrated and I think the tone of assistant Secretary O'Brien reflects this very clearly”, said Havener.

Hüvenier stressed that it is the rare “thing” for Kosovo to be criticised by the United States at the UN Security Council, referring to American Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Grenfield's speech, which reiterated her state's request for Kosovo to suspend implementation of the BEC decision during a session on February 9th, where it spoke at Serbia's request for the dinar issue.

The American Ambassador to Pristina's harsh statements were made a day after Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti tried to reject US Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien, who said Kosovo is risking partnership with the United States following the decision to ban the Serbian dinar.

The Republic of Kosovo has no partner, ally and important friends like the United States, so I consider and co-operate as Kosovo prime minister”, Kurti said on Wednesday.

O'Brien warned on Tuesday that the United States may not treat Kosovo as a partner, if it makes decisions without consulting it, following the decision to ban the Serbian dinar.

I do not make vague threats publicly. I would say, if we are not treated as partners, even we will not treat the Kosovo government as partner”, O'Brien said Tuesday in an interview for the Voice of America.

Hüvenier said he feels concerned by Kurti's public statements and other Kosovo officials following O'Brien's interview, which claimed the US-Kosovo partnership has not been affected and may not be affected by this situation, adding “must be clear that this is not true at all. It's not like this”.

Whatever the opposite suggestion reflects a fundamental misunderstanding, or distorting the importance that we give to resolving this issue in a way that responds to our concerns and, most importantly, carried out in a way that provides continued support for people in need from minority communities in Kosovo”, he added.

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.

But, Havenier stressed that the Kosovo government has not heard US demands for delaying implementation of the regulation decision.

He said the United States had asked the Kosovo government two specific things about the decision to implement the BEC regulation.

The first “, a procedure should be introduced through which Serbia could transfer funds in line with Central Bank regulation. But that means European standards and practices. Placing this procedure should be discussed in the EU-mediated dialogue. We expect Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively in this.

The second “, until it is worked to implement this long-term process, there must be temporary projects to allow Serbia to continue providing funds for needed social services, including social payments, such as pensions, support for the health and education system. So far there has been no attempt to enable this on temporary basis”, Houvenier explained.