Euro is the only means of payment in Kosovo as of today

(Patria) - After the expiry of the three-month period set by the Government of Kosovo for a "transitional period", the euro is the only official means of cash payment in Kosovo as of today, so those who do not comply with this decision can expect penalties.

According to the portal Radio Kim, traders and caterers in the municipality of Gračanica have suspended payment transactions in dinars.

- As of today, we have stopped accepting dinars. We are aware of the situation that it is forbidden in Kosovo and we are guided by that.

I don't think it's a big problem, because citizens withdraw their salaries and pensions in Serbia anyway, convert them to euros, and spend them here. It's not a big problem for us either, we charge in euros - says catering worker Marko Rajković.

Education worker from Gračanica, Ljiljana Đorić, points out that citizens who are employed and receive their salaries from the Serbian budget will manage, and that the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) poses the biggest problem for the elderly and sick.

- I am aware of it, I heard it yesterday and nothing surprises me, nor did I expect a different outcome. We will manage as best we can. Worse things haven't scared us, this won't either.

Citizens of Kosovo who are employed will manage, the biggest problem is for pensioners. I don't know how they will manage because they are old and not capable of traveling. We will try to help them as much as we can - adds Đorić.

Although dissatisfied with the CBK's decision, pensioners interviewed by Kim radio journalists said that they go to central Serbia for their earned money and that after its conversion, they function normally in Kosovo.

- I am aware of the abolition of dinars and it is a big problem. I go to Serbia and withdraw my pension there. What can we do, they don't allow it, they will surely punish. The law is the law, it must be respected - said Ljubiša from Preoc.

- It wasn't enough for them that we don't have dinars to withdraw here, so they abolished them too. I have a small pension and I can't go to Serbia. It's sad what they are doing to us in Kosovo - added Borika Mirković from Gračanica.

On February 1st, the Regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo came into effect, according to which the euro is the only official currency. Although delegations from Pristina and Belgrade have met six times so far regarding the problem of dinar usage in Kosovo, no solution has been found.