Moore: Decision regarding dinar - wrong and unnecessary provocation

The new regulation by the Central Bank of Kosovo banning the use of the Serbian dinar for sales and financial transactions within the territory of Kosovo was assessed by a former senior official of the US State Department, Jonathan Moore, as a wrong, uncoordinated, and unnecessary provocation in an interview for the Albanian Post.

The international community has criticized the Government of Kosovo, not due to the legitimacy of the Central Bank's regulation, but because the decision was made unilaterally, without prior consultations, and an adequate transitional phase. Considering Kosovo's aspirations for EU and NATO membership, such goals cannot be achieved without proper cooperation with the international community, as stated by the former US Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the interview.

The Central Bank of Kosovo recently issued a new regulation, among many other provisions, prohibiting the use of the Serbian state currency, the dinar, in Kosovo. Serbia stated that this decision was against the Serbs and aimed to persecute them, while the Government of Kosovo claimed the opposite, emphasizing that the Central Bank was implementing a provision of the Constitution. How do you view this entire situation?

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your questions. I am more than happy to offer my thoughts from my personal perspective. The decision regarding the Serbian dinar was a wrong, uncoordinated, and unnecessary provocation. Kosovo should seek positive solutions and initiatives and discuss these ideas with partners whose support is essential for Kosovo.

The international community criticized the Government of Kosovo not because of the legitimacy of the Central Bank's regulation, but because the decision was made unilaterally, without prior consultations, and without an adequate transitional phase. Why do you think the international community reacted so loudly?

Kosovo has many priorities. It aspires to join the European Union and NATO. Look at the process Sweden and Finland have just gone through to join NATO, and both of these countries have well-established, sovereign democracies. There are EU and NATO members that do not recognize Kosovo. On this issue, Kosovo is not close to membership in the United Nations. When I first started working with Kosovo over 30 years ago, the art of Ibrahim Rugova was what drew the world's attention to Kosovo. In 2024, Kosovo needs statesmanship, not recklessness.

The ban on the dinar has worsened bilateral relations between Kosovo and the United States, as evidenced by the recent interview with James O'Brien, who directly criticized Kosovo for its latest decision. How should Kosovo proceed?

Assistant Secretary of State Jim O'Brien and Ambassador Jeff Hovenier were very clear. Public officials in Kosovo must respect their messages and respond constructively.

Many voices are claiming that the Government of Kosovo, through decisions like this one regarding the dinar, is trying to buy time and prolong the implementation of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. In your opinion, could this be a political strategy, and does Kosovo benefit from it?

Perhaps I'm missing something, but from afar, I don't see evidence of a positive political strategy from the current government. The Community has always aimed to reflect the capacities of all municipalities in Kosovo, enabling municipalities with a Serb-majority population to work together. A true political strategy would demonstrate Kosovo's respect for democratic practices and social institutions, open the doors to the Community, it would impress its international partners, swiftly implement court decisions such as the one regarding the Decani Monastery, and promote economic growth through clear support for Kosovo's impressive entrepreneurs. By comparison, Albania offers a different and much more efficient model in many ways.

The UK Special Representative for the Western Balkans, Stuart Peach, has stated that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, mediated by the European Union, should develop based on the example of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended the conflict between opposing sides in Northern Ireland 25 years ago. In your opinion, can an agreement like the Good Friday Agreement normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia?

I don't have deep knowledge of the Good Friday Agreement, nor would I dare to amend genuine dialogue. Elements that enable the rights and freedoms of individual ethnic and/or religious communities certainly have merit. It's important that both the United States and the EU, along with Great Britain, are committed to supporting the dialogue.

The year 2024 is an election year in many countries around the world, including the European Union and the United States. How can elections impact the progress of the dialogue process?

When I was recently in the region, I was asked this question about my country many times. First, regardless of who wins in the United States in November, we can be sure that we will hear from many Balkan commentators and so-called experts elsewhere that the United States has "forgotten" or neglected the Balkans, as after every election. We have many vital domestic policy issues, and we are also dealing with ongoing conflicts in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. These conflicts and other international issues will continue to compete for policymakers' attention. This will make what I said earlier even more accurate: positive and statesmanlike steps in Kosovo will receive positive support in return. No one in Kosovo should expect the world to solve their problems.

It has been five months since a terrorist group illegally entered Kosovo and attacked the Kosovo Police, killing one of its members. Kosovo blamed Serbia for the attack, stating that official Belgrade attempted to "annex the entire northern Kosovo," but Belgrade denied any involvement. How did you see this entire situation, and could the same situation repeat itself in the near future?

I haven't visited the North for several years, and apart from media reports, I don't have access to government information or analyses on the specifics. My main impression is that, whatever the intention, it was certainly a failure and a crime. Although I visited communities, churches, and monasteries, I can only imagine the stress that was felt in Banjska during the incident.

The north of Kosovo remains a source of problems, ambiguities, and dictates not only for political agendas but also for everyday social discourse. When and how will this issue cease to be a problem, and why is it so difficult to find a solution for Northern Kosovo?

Allow me, for a moment, to set aside your good philosophical approach. I don't know if, at any point in history, a political solution to a crisis or conflict has been universally or permanently esteemed. State prosperity, support, and vision when expressed to everyone in the North and throughout Kosovo, combined with close partnerships with neighbors and the international community, will surely make things much better.