Stosic: If the number of Serbs in Kosovo becomes a statistical error, solutions to their problems will not be of essential importance

Slobodan Stosic, Program Manager at the NGO Center for Advocacy of Democratic Culture, states that the crucial moment for the Serbian community in Kosovo this year will be the elections for new mayors in the north, while the survival of the Serbian community will depend crucially on how the issue of the use of the dinar is resolved.

He points out that the policy of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has been aimed at reducing Serbian rights or bringing them to a minimum level, leading to a mass exodus of the Serbian community from Kosovo.

"If Kurti's goal is to reduce the Serbian population to a statistical error, then the solutions found will also be insignificant for the citizens. If the number of Serbs remains so small, we can expect bilingualism to be abolished, and if the CSM ever comes, it will not make any sense in those circumstances," Stosic says.

When asked who can prevent Serbs in Kosovo from losing political significance, our interlocutor says that it is both the international factor and Serbia.

"The international factor is of crucial influence, I mean European countries and America as leading countries in the normalization process. But Serbia should also pursue a more proactive policy, not just be a silent observer, but offer or seek solutions that would be sustainable and good for the citizens," Stosic says.

Regarding the decision of the Central Bank of Kosovo to abolish the dinar as a means of payment, he emphasizes that, according to some estimates, about 70,000 to 90,000 citizens benefit from the services of the Republic of Serbia in terms of salaries, pensions, child benefits, or social assistance.

"Now they would have to go to central Serbia to withdraw their funds and convert them into euros, which entails additional costs. All these issues regarding the dinar, as well as others, should be resolved through the CSM," Stosic emphasizes.