All she said yesterday Escobar after meeting Kurt for the dinar

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has offered American emissary to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, co-operation for “rapid upgrade” of concerns related to stopping the use of the Serbian dinar. Meanwhile, the senior US official said he has introduced Kurt to some proposals on the issue, which Kosovo leader has promised he will review.

Both Kurti and Escobar described the conversation they held on March 14th at the Kosovo Government building, which lasted almost two hours.

Escobar reiterated the American position for immediate addressing the Kosovo Central Bank regulation. The regulation, which envisions the euro as the only currency for making payments, has entered into force on February 1st. The US has criticised this regulation, saying it does not take into account the negative effects on the Serb population in Kosovo.

Escobar said no one can be affected when he hears how the most vulnerable part of society by the Serb community is being influenced by the Kosovo Central Bank regulation, which envisions the euro as the only currency for paying in Kosovo.

“The prime minister accepted this and promised to see some of the proposals I presented today”, Escobar said.

Meanwhile, through a media report, Kurti's office said discussions on the BQ's regulation were conservative and focused on “the education of common concerns”.

Because of the impact of regulation on the Kosovo Serb community, the Government has taken action to ensure that the transition is quick and easy for Kosovo citizens from the Serb community. In this direction, the prime minister also stressed proposals that have been presented for the transition period and offered co-operation in quick addressing all concerns that fall in the competencies of the government”, the report said.

dinar, challenge “in US-Kosovo reports”

Speaking to the media in Pristina, Escobar said the Serbian dinar issue presents a challenge in US reports with Kosovo, but he stressed Washington remains Kosovo's most reliable and committed partner.

Be honest, these challenges are due to treatment now becoming a Serb minority. It's a pity we have to go through this situation. But the BQ's regulation of the dinar has caused problems for some of the citizens of this state and we are very concerned. We will continue to work on this issue, but I think it is an urgent humanitarian issue that we should address immediately”, Escobar said.

Asked whether the US has an unbalanced approach towards Kosovo, Escobar said his state has done everything in favour of Kosovo since last year. He said Washington has backed Kosovo's application to the Council of Europe, supported democratic processes, including elections in northern Kosovo, supported Pristina after the armed attack in Banjska and supported the decision to sell opposing Yavelin systems.

How can we be unbalanced? We're not. All we have done has been for Kosovo and we will continue to do so. Meanwhile, we hope that Kosovo can hear our concerns and that I do not believe should be very difficult”, he said.

During the discussion for journalists, Escobar said he hopes the Kosovo government will be flexible during a meeting of dialogue next Tuesday.

Free Europe Radio Learns from its diplomatic sources that the March 19th meeting in Brussels will be at the level of chief negotiators.

It is expected at that meeting to discuss the sequence plan for implementation of the Agreement on the road to normalisation of reports between Kosovo and Serbia on other issues, with the possibility of involvement in discussions and the dinar issue.

The dinar issue has strained reports between Kurti Government and the American administration, while American officials have declared earlier that Kosovo executive is not treating them as partners.

The decision on the CEC's regulation has been criticised by the US and the European Union, which have argued it has been taken without preliminary consultations and without taking on negative impacts on the Serb population living in Kosovo.

Washington has called for Kosovo to postpone the implementation of the decision, meanwhile, the EU has demanded that a solution to the issue be found within dialogue in Brussels between Kosovo and Serbia, mediated by the European bloc.

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.

Escobar began his visit to Kosovo a day earlier, when she met with President Vjosa Osmani, with opposition party leaders and with Serbian political representatives in Kosovo.

After meeting with Osman, the US emissary urged Kosovo and Serbia to implement all agreements reached in the dialogue.

Meanwhile, after their meeting with the American emissary, several Serbian politicians expressed encourage “with the US approach to some recent decisions of the Government of Kosovo and said they have received guarantees from him for resolution “in favour of the Serb community”. /REL

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Escobar is declared after about 2 hours of meeting with Kurt: Kosovo to hear our concerns, should not be difficult