In Serbia they insist that BEC regulation be discussed in political dialogue

Serbia's People's Bank (NBS) requested the abolition of the Kosovo Central Bank regulation (BQK), which defines the euro as the only currency for payments in Kosovo Qaeda and demanded that the issue be resolved with political dialogue.

With the BEC regulations, which went into effect on 1 February, it ended using the Serbian dinar in majority Serb municipalities in Kosovo.

Serbia's People's Bank told Radio Free Europe that “cannot be referred to” for an agreement between it and Kosovo Central Bank, as Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi suggested.

This issue should be resolved exclusively within the dialogue level at the existing”, the NBS said, referring to talks on normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Bislimi said Wednesday it would ensure a transition period from the dinar to the euro, and that the BEC regulation does not imply a ban on transfer of money from Serbia to Kosovo.

He also said he hopes that the central banks of the two countries will hold talks so that a mechanism for transparent transfer of tools can be found.

Contacted by Radio Free Europe, the Kosovo Central Bank said it is ready to engage in talks with the counterpart body in Serbia.

Without offering many details, the CEC said “exists the way and examples” on how the transfer of tools to the euro currency bank accounts” can be realised.

But, the People's Bank of Serbia insisted that the CEC regulation “means the inability to pay salaries, pensions, social benefits and other incomes for the Serb population in dinars”.

This institution said that, in co-operation with Serbia's other state institutions, “will take all necessary measures, considering the interests of Serbia's citizens” in Kosovo. / REL/