Nestorovic: Long-term solution to the dinar issue in Kosovo is the establishment of the CSM

Deputy Director of Community Building Mitrovica, Nemanja Nestorovic, regarding two months since the implementation of the Central Bank of Kosovo regulation prohibiting transactions in dinars, tells for Kosovo Online that a large number of people were affected by this political issue and that it was uncertain what the next period would bring. He sees the solution to the problem in the formation of the CSM (Community of Serb-majority Municipalities).

"In these two months, people have somehow become accustomed to this difficult chaos that has affected the Serbian community in Kosovo, adapting and not adapting to it. At the same time, they have had the opportunity to experience the reality of life in Kosovo and the hasty decisions of the authorities in Pristina. As we know, ATMs have been set up along the administrative crossings with Kosovo, which has somewhat eased the lives of citizens, but this is not a long-term solution that can help correct the situation. We also have the stubbornness of the authorities in Pristina, as I mentioned, those suspensions and decisions regarding the dinar, so it is still uncertain what the next period will bring," Nestorovic states.

Our interlocutor emphasizes that the issue of the dinar could be resolved by establishing the CSM, but adds that the authorities in Pristina are unwilling to take such a step.

"We heard that delegations from Belgrade and Pristina had a meeting with Lajcak about ten days ago. Both sides, as before, came out with conflicting statements, accusing each other of being unconstructive. What we have on the table now are American proposals to solve the issue of the dinar in Kosovo. However, what might perhaps more effectively and concretely solve the problem is the establishment of the CSM, which the authorities in Pristina stubbornly refuse or are unwilling to enact," he concludes.

Nestorovic notes that he was more optimistic earlier and thought that this political issue would be resolved, however, he says it is evident that it has significantly worsened the lives of Serbs.

"We have a large number of people affected by this decision. People adapted to the situation shortly after the initial shock, however, there is no long-term and concrete solution in sight, and that is what adds to the fear. People still believe that this move by Pristina is another in a series of decisions to drive Serbs out of Kosovo, and that's what we hear from people because we are citizens who live and work in Kosovo, that this is another move to further complicate people's lives and their eventual departure, which people fear. We now also have a situation with enormously high electricity bills. This has brought even more unrest, to the already long list of unresolved issues that affect the community in Kosovo," Nestorovic concludes.