Kurti: Kosovo remains steadfast in its journey beside American friends, allies

The prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, in the case of marking the country's 16th anniversary of independence, has said the state of Kosovo can move forward and safely only with friends and allies.

In his speech, Kurti said that if in the days of liberation, in declaring independence and now on the 16th anniversary of Kosovo, friends and allies, such as the United States and European states.

“As it were in the days of liberation, in June 1999, as well as on the day of Kosovo's independence on February 17, 2008, as it is today, on the 16th birthday of our independent Republic, Kosovo has stood by friends and allies who traveled with us and with us, both in difficult times, and at festive moments and commemorations just like today. As once in 1999, like then in 2008, like today in 2017, Kosovo has been, is and will remain steadfast in its journey together and along with American friends and allies, which, although from across the Atlantic, are close and European to our common continent. With friends and allies we are stronger and safer. Together we have come so far and together we will continue to progress to where we are headed, the European Union and NATO. Only so with strong friends and allies, Kosovo, so we stand up to”, Kurti said among other things in his speech.

We remember that this anniversary of independence finds the Government of Kosovo with angry reports with the US.

This was after senior American officials over the past few days criticised Kosovo's government for ignoring the US demand to delay the decision to quickly implement Kosovo Central Bank regulation, which prohibits the Serbian dinar as a legal means of payment in Kosovo.

They described this as a unilateral decision that can produce consequences even in partnership with the US.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia James O'Brien on Tuesday has said that the United States may not treat Kosovo as a partner if it makes decisions without consulting it, following the decision to ban the dinar.

O'Brien said Kosovo should suspend the BQK's decision immediately and work as modern European <x0-state” for finding a resolution of its “concrete problem”.

People need to know how to pay the bills. When I read the Central Bank statement, it does not say that dinar use will be allowed. He says an alternative will be offered. This had to be done before the decision was implemented in co-operation with the affected communities and with neighbours affected by the decision and sincerely with the European Union and with us”, OʹBrien said.

While, during the week US Ambassador to Pristina Jeffrey Havenier, at a media conference, has reiterated the call for Kosovo to postpone the decision on the dinar, regulations taken by the Kosovo Central Bank.

Hovenier said the issue for the Serbian dinar has affected the partnership between the two countries.

“OBrien made it clear that if Kurt doesn't treat us as partners, he questions how many partners we can be with this Government. I heard it was said that US-Kosovo relations were not affected and could not be affected by this situation, but I must be sure that this is not true. This situation has touched our partnership. Any other explanation is misunderstanding”, he said.