The Minister of Finance in the Government of Kosovo, Hekuran Murati, said that Kosovo consults and coordinates on the issue of the Central Bank's regulation that prohibits the use of the Serbian dinar.

During a press conference after the Government meeting, Murat was asked to give a position regarding the statements of the US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O'Brien, who said that the United States may not treat Kosovo as a partner , if it takes decisions without consulting it, after the CBK decision.

On February 1, the CBK regulation came into force, which envisages the use of only euros for payments, despite the request of the USA and the European Union for Kosovo to postpone its implementation.

"Regarding the issue of the statements of our international partners, it should be noted that it is a decision taken by the Central Bank in December of last year. It is not a new decision. The decision entered into force in February of this year, but it was taken earlier", said Murati.

"We definitely consult, we definitely coordinate and we definitely take into account all aspects regarding the goal that the CBK regulation achieves or aims to achieve, but also many other laws that we have adopted, all international partners are unanimous who support him to the end. I believe that you also received these through statements from embassies. It means, there is no dilemma or there is no difference regarding the goal we want to achieve. The only difference is in the period or how to design the transitional period, which has been requested to be there", he added.
A day ago, the CBK announced that for the simplified implementation of its regulation there will be a transitional period, no longer than three months, while Prime Minister Albin Kurti has stated that the state will not give up the decision to ban dinar for cash payments, but that he is respecting the demands of the international community on this issue.

But, O'Brien said on February 13 that Kosovo should suspend the CBK decision immediately and work as a "modern European state" to find a solution to "this concrete problem".

"People need to know how they will pay their bills. When I read the statement of the Central Bank, it does not say that the use of the dinar will be allowed. Says an alternative will be offered. This had to be done before the decision was implemented in cooperation with the affected communities and with the neighbors who are affected by the decision and frankly with the European Union and with us", said O'Brien during an interview for the Voice of America.
The Serbian state allocates millions of euros to Serbs in Kosovo after paying them - through a parallel system - salaries, pensions and additional assistance.

The regulation has been criticized by the international factor, which has argued that the decision was taken without prior consultation. Internationals have asked Kosovo to postpone the implementation of the regulation, saying that more time is needed for the Serbian community to adapt to the decision./REL