Mijacic: The Kosovo government does not have the financial ability to cover the costs of the Serbian community to the extent that Serbia does

The Coordinator of the National Convention for Chapter 35, Dragisa Mijacic, indicated that the budget of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija for this year is 104.4 million euros, while the Government of Kosovo has allocated 41.6 million euros for municipalities with a Serbian majority, and said that Kosovo does not have the financial ability to cover the costs of education, health and social protection for the Serbian community paid by Serbia, especially not in the current scope.

Mijacic stated on the social network "X" that what the Government of Kosovo dedicated for areas with a majority Serbian population represents 40 percent of Serbia's allocation for the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, through which Serbia's allocations are transferred.

"These figures represent regular transfers, while capital investments are replenished. According to the statement of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, from 2022, the development projects and capital investments of Serbia in Serbian areas in Kosovo amount to 800 million euros! A significant part of these investment funds ends up with Albanian construction companies, service providers, shops, as well as in the Kosovo budget, which also contributes to cooperation between communities and social cohesion between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo," emphasized Mijacic.

He adds that on the other hand, Albin Kurti announced on January 1 this year more than 12 million euros for capital investments in 10 municipalities with a Serbian majority.

"It is obvious that the financial capabilities of the Government of Kosovo are much less than those of the Government of Serbia. Kosovo does not have the financial ability to cover the costs of education, health and social protection in the Serbian community that are paid by Serbia, especially not in the current volume. On the other hand, the Government of Kosovo has security power to make life hell for Serbs in Kosovo, despite the fact that there are legal provisions in Kosovo that allow the financing of the affairs of the Serbian community by the Government of Serbia," he emphasizes.

Mijacic states that Article 143.2 of the Constitution of Kosovo states that "the provisions of the comprehensive proposal for the resolution of the status of Kosovo of March 26, 2007 have priority over all other legal provisions in Kosovo", and that Article 11.1 of the Comprehensive Proposal for the Resolution of the Status of Kosovo states that "municipalities have the right to receive financial donations from the Republic of Serbia".

"This article is further operationalized in the Law of Self-Government in Kosovo - Article 30.2.: Municipalities (with a majority Serbian population) have the right to cooperate with municipalities and institutions, including state authorities, in the Republic of Serbia within their jurisdiction... Such cooperation can take the form of providing financial and technical assistance by Serbian institutions, including professional staff and equipment, in the implementation of municipal responsibilities,'' he adds.

As he points out on the basis of all that, there are instruments in the Kosovo legal system that enable financing of the affairs of the Serbian community in Kosovo by the Republic of Serbia.

Mijacic also states that as part of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, provisions are being negotiated for the creation of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities (CSM) in Kosovo, which will provide a legal framework for the functioning of educational and health institutions in the areas of Kosovo with a Serbian majority.

The regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo on the prohibition of cash transfers for dinars is, as he stated, an attempt to create a new reality on the ground that will limit the functioning of institutions financed by the Republic of Serbia before the CSM is formed.

"Like all other unilateral decisions of the Kosovo Government in the past, the implementation of the CBK decree will certainly create political instability and security disturbances in the areas of Kosovo inhabited by Serbs. It will also increase poverty in Serb communities and their distrust of the Kosovo Government," says Mijacic.