Vucic: Banning the Serbian dinar is aimed at the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo

2024-02-02 17:55:41, Kosova & Bota CNA

Vucic: Banning the Serbian dinar is aimed at the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said on Friday that the decision of the authorities in Kosovo to ban the use of the Serbian dinar is aimed at the ethnic cleansing of the Serbs, while he said that he will request an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

He made these comments during a press conference in Belgrade after the decision of the Central Bank of Kosovo that came into effect on February 1, according to which the euro is the only currency that can be used for ready payments in Kosovo.

"The goal and the first part of everything I will talk about today is the ethnic cleansing of the Serbian population from the territory of Kosovo, or as stated in the Genocide Convention, the intentional subjection of Serbs to unbearable living conditions," said the Serbian president. underlining that with the Brussels agreements, Serbia has the right to finance Serbian institutions in Kosovo.

"We believe that Kurti's regime will continue with disruptions and new stunts, I believe that they will take actions against the normal life of Serbs, because the only way to win, as they think, is that there are no more Serbs in Kosovo . We will do everything in our power so that the Serbs remain in Kosovo", he said.

The Serbian president said that he will find a solution even through private banks to make payments to Serbian citizens.

The authorities in Kosovo have left open the possibility for a transitional period to resolve the concerns of the Serbian community that continues to use the Serbian dinar, amid concerns from Western diplomats that the issue could fuel new tensions.

The European Commission expressed today, as it said, its regret for the decision of the authorities in Kosovo, which was approved without prior consultation.

"We have not criticized Kosovo for the adoption of the euro or the decision on which currency should be used. We have only commented on the fact that this decision was approved without prior consultation. Because at this moment you have people, institutions, including hospitals that operate in a framework, receiving financial assistance from Serbia, and they must have enough time to prepare", said the European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer.

The US State Department told VOA that it is deeply disappointed with Kosovo's current plans for the dinar and again called for the implementation of this decision to be postponed immediately, which has not been advised in advance.

The speaker of the Kosovo parliament, Glauk Konjufca, said today that the Serbian dinar has always been illegal in the country and has been misused by Serbia to finance parallel structures.

"Which were not only doctors and teachers, but also people who committed very dangerous illegal actions who violated the security of our state", said Mr. Konjufca.

The authorities in Pristina said that communication channels should be opened between the Central Bank of Kosovo and that of Serbia on this issue, but the Serbian president rejected such a possibility, stressing that this would mean recognition of Kosovo's independence, which Serbia continues to oppose./ VOA