The NBS statement regarding the stopping of vehicles at Jarinje: We are solely responsible for the dinar, everything directed against the existence of the Serbs

Regarding the latest statements from institutions in Pristina regarding yesterday's prevention of the entry of dinars intended for pensions and social benefits, the National Bank of Serbia emphasized that it was solely competent to decide on the use of dinars.

"We inform the public that the mentioned funds were intended for the necessary payment of salaries, pensions, social benefits, and other payments to the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and that the temporary self-government institutions, by halting the mentioned transport, once again demonstrated that their true intention is to deprive the Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija of elementary living conditions," the NBS statement said.

The necessary dinar funds were sent to the treasury of the National Bank of Serbia in Leposavic, by a vehicle of the National Bank of Serbia, which, they remind, is the only competent issuing institution authorized to decide on the use of dinars throughout the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

In accordance with the longstanding usual practice, the funds were sent to the Jarinje crossing by a vehicle of the National Bank of Serbia, where the money was supposed to be taken over for further transport by a "Henderson" company vehicle, which holds a license from Kosovo institutions for money transport, but it was returned without any explanation.

"Yesterday's stopping of the necessary dinar transport carried out by the National Bank of Serbia confirms the intention of the temporary Pristina institutions to, despite calls from the international community, begin implementing unlawful and unprecedented measures from February 1, 2024, with the sole aim of preventing unhindered transport and distribution of dinars and denying citizens in Kosovo and Metohija access to basic means of living," the statement said.

It is emphasized that the measures taken are exclusively politically and ethnically motivated and contrary to any comparative professional practice.

"They are unknown in any financial system that is even remotely aligned with international standards, which speaks volumes about the alleged 'independence' of the temporary institution in Kosovo and Metohija that enacted such a measure," the statement reads.

It is added that the introduction of the obligation to obtain individual permits, rather than reporting, for each entry of funds across the administrative boundary, and only to the financial institution with a special permit from Pristina, in a situation where NLB Komercijalna Banka - Branch in North Mitrovica was forced to close its branches after years of pressure from Pristina institutions, testifies to the true intention of Pristina institutions to create unbearable living conditions for all citizens in Kosovo who earn their income in dinars.

"It is sufficient to note that representatives of these institutions themselves admitted in their statements that so far, the transport of dinars to Kosovo and Metohija has been permitted, operated transparently, and they were aware of the manner and quantity of dinars being transported, thereby refuting the nonsensical attempts to portray new measures as measures aimed at preserving the integrity of the financial and monetary system. Especially considering that such statements are made by the so-called institution that does not issue its own currency, unauthorizedly declares the euro as the official currency and sole means of payment, and lacks monetary policy instruments," the NBS emphasized.

They say that the attempts by institutions in Pristina to reduce further discussions, allegedly for the benefit of all citizens in Kosovo who earn their income in dinars, to the level of technical discussions and with the aim of accepting and legitimizing unilateral and violent measures already taken are unacceptable to the National Bank of Serbia.

"The alleged readiness for dialogue and concern for the Serbian population by the temporary institutions were best illustrated by how the mentioned measures were adopted, out of the public eye and without public debate, in which neither the Albanian population nor representatives of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija were involved, and all this was done outside the dialogue process," they stated.

It is concluded that for all the reasons mentioned above, the National Bank of Serbia believes that it is necessary to immediately repeal the discriminatory, unlawful, and unprecedented measures introduced by institutions in Pristina.

"Insisting on a political format of dialogue is the only possibility, and there can be no agreement between the temporary self-government institutions in Kosovo and Metohija and the National Bank of Serbia. This issue must also be addressed exclusively within the framework of dialogue at the existing level," they concluded from the NBS.