Stano: Results of dinar talks hinge on both sides' ability

The completion of the fourth round of talks between Kosovo and Serbia, held on April 18th in Brussels on the dinar issue, did not produce results directly. This sparked suspicions that this process is heading towards failure, as the parties are failing to reach compliance with a mediator's proposal, Miroslav Lajcak.

Rtv21, has called for answers from the EU if the Kosovo-Serbia talks on the dinar issue are heading towards failure, EU spokesman Peter Stano said the results depend on the ability of both sides.

The outcome of continued talks depends solely on the ability of both sides to behave in a European way and find a mutually acceptable solution”, Stano said.

Soon after the meetings, the chief negotiators took their stand. Kosovo's chief negotiator, Besbik Bislimi, had dubbed the meeting “in vain and without results”. Meanwhile, Serbia's chief negotiator, Petar Petkov, said Serbia “did everything to find solutions”.

The April 18th talks on the dinar were held under voting tension at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where Kosovo passed the second phase successfully despite an aggressive campaign by Serbia against Kosovo.

The EU had warned Kosovo and Serbia that the results of talks in Brussels would affect the integration route for both sides. But how much prevents Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe from reaching an agreement in Brussels on the dinar issue?

This union spokesman, Peter Stano, said Brussels' dialogue has nothing to do with the Kosovo membership process at the Council of Europe.

Europe's Council is a completely different organisation from the EU and has nothing to do with the EU facilitated Dialogue”, Stano said.

The EU has quickly warned the next meeting between top negotiators in Brussels for the dinar.
On February 1st, the BEC regulation entered into force, which prohibits the use of the Serbian dinar for carrying out payments on Kosovo territory.