Kosovo abolishes the dinar and introduces the euro starting today

(Patria) - Kosovo officials have confirmed that starting today, the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) comes into effect, providing for cash payments and payment transactions exclusively in euros, with a transitional period to allow citizens to adapt to this regulation.

According to a previous CBK announcement, the euro will be the only permitted currency in Kosovo, thereby excluding the dinar from payment transactions.

In practice, this decision means a ban on the use of the dinar, the official currency of Serbia, which has been used in all majority Serb enclaves in Kosovo until now.

Serbia's payment operations have continuously functioned in Kosovo since the 1999 war conflicts in majority Serb communities, and dinars have been in circulation through the Serbian Treasury in trade, Serbian institutions, hospitality, and other private service activities.

Belgrade has meanwhile accused Pristina authorities of attempting to abolish dialogue and expel the Serb people from Kosovo with this decision.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has stated that he is convinced the international community will not allow this. He has requested pressure from the EU and the international community on Pristina to withdraw the decision.

Meanwhile, last night he met with ambassadors from the Quint countries - the USA, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and France. However, after that meeting, it was announced that "there will be no statement".

"Any formal word would be superfluous," Vučić's office told the media.

Before that meeting, Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi confirmed that the CBK decision would come into effect on Thursday, February 1, and that no one, not even Kosovo's international partners, questions the legality of this decision.

Bislimi told reporters in Pristina that the CBK, in cooperation with the National Bank of Serbia, should find a suitable transitional period mechanism.

The international community, on the other hand, has requested that this decision be postponed, assessing that it could negatively affect the Serb community.

Yesterday in Pristina, according to Radio Free Europe, Bislimi also leveled a series of criticisms against Serbia for misusing funds in the name of Serbs from Kosovo.

- The President of Serbia claims that he sends 800 million euros to Kosovo every year. If 800 million euros came to Kosovo, Serbs from Kosovo would have the same income as citizens of Japan - Bislimi stated.

He asserted that less than 200 million euros come to Kosovo from Serbia.

- By establishing transparency, Vučić will have to explain where the other money is going - Bislimi added.