Celic: The essence of the CBK decision is the abolition of all Serbian institutions, from kindergartens to universities

Starting today, the decision of the Central Bank of Kosovo on the euro as the only official currency in Kosovo formally comes into effect. Professor Dusko Celic from the Faculty of Law at the University of Pristina, with a temporary seat in Kosovska Mitrovica, says that the essence of this decision is, in fact, the abolition of all Serbian institutions in the territory of Kosovo.

Professor Celic pointed out to Kosovo Online that this scenario was announced as early as mid-2017 when it was announced in the Kosovo press that all, as stated in Pristina, Serbian parallel institutions, or institutions whose founders are either the Government of Serbia or other public entities from Serbia, would be "integrated" or abolished before any decision in Pristina regarding the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities.

"That's exactly what was said in mid-2017, and what we have these days is precisely that," Celic says.

He adds that this decision by the Central Bank of Kosovo is incorrectly interpreted in public as a decision to abolish the dinar, but it is actually about abolishing the payment system of the Republic of Serbia.

Celic explains that all Serbian institutions that have operated within the system of the Republic of Serbia so far have exclusively used this payment system. All activities were conducted through this payment system, including through the Postal Savings Bank and the Post of Serbia, up until the recently closed Komercijalna Banka.

These institutions provided payment services, says Celic, specifying that they were the ones that could buy, sell, pay wages to workers, withdraw money for material costs...

"Formally, from today, this cannot be done, although we hear from Pristina that some transitional period will be allowed. The essence of this decision is actually the abolition of all Serbian institutions in Kosovo and Metohija, primarily referring to education at all levels, from kindergartens to universities, healthcare, social welfare institutions, cultural institutions, and the Post of Serbia. This is being done in this period precisely to render the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities meaningless," Celic said.

As he explains, this is being done precisely now so that when the turn comes for the CSM, even though, as he observes, the turn passed a long time ago, practically it won't have any authority.

"The idea from Belgrade was for all Serbian institutions to continue functioning within the framework of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. However, with this measure, Pristina, or Kurti specifically, practically prevents that," he concludes.

Professor Celic, as a university professor, states that there is great concern among teachers, collaborators, and students about how the University will continue to function.

Emphasizing that the University is one of the key pillars for the Serbs not only in Kosovo and Metohija but generally for our people, he urges the Government of Serbia to do everything in its power to preserve Serbian institutions, including the Serbian University, or the University of Pristina with a temporary seat in Kosovska Mitrovica.