Ukaj: Kurti's speech at the UNSC session reasoned; the CKB decision is good for Serbian citizens

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti's report at the United Nations Security Council session was reasoned, a political analyst from Pristina, Fidan Ukaj claims in contrast to the speech by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, which, he claims, was propaganda.

Ukaj emphasizes that Vucic dramatized the issue of the dinar in last night's UNSC session, claiming that, as he said, the Serbian community in Kosovo would suffer consequences due to the halted circulation of the dinar.

"I think this is a big lie because Serbian citizens living in Kosovo now have open bank accounts and receive pensions from Kosovo institutions, as well as grants from the Kosovo Government. Just as payments in US dollars, British pounds, or Albanian leks to bank accounts of Kosovo citizens are not prohibited, neither is the payment in dinars, which of course must be converted into euros afterward because the Constitution of Kosovo does not recognize any other currency. There is no regulation by the Central Bank of Kosovo stating that specifically dinar, dollar, or lek is prohibited; instead, it states that the Constitution must be respected and that there is only one official currency, and the official currency in Kosovo is the euro," Ukaj said.

Ukaj emphasizes that financial support from Serbia to the Serbs in Kosovo is not prohibited, but they must adhere to the regulations of the Central Bank of Kosovo.

"This possibility to receive pensions, social assistance, funding for kindergartens, and hospitals in the Serbian community, has not been prohibited by any new regulation, nor has it ever been prohibited. Instead, it is now required that this funding be in accordance with the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo, in accordance with the current legislation, the Constitution, and that bank accounts be opened in institutions accredited in Kosovo so that citizens from the Serbian community living in Kosovo can receive the economic assistance provided by Serbia. The informal arrival of dinars by truck or van to be deposited in the vault in Leposavic, and then a large portion of that money given to citizens from the Serbian community in cash or through the Serbian post that existed in Kosovo, should be eliminated," Ukaj said.

He emphasizes that the Serbs in Kosovo are not losing anything with the new regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo.

"I believe that receiving money into a bank account, the income they receive from Serbia and rightfully belong to them, represents a gain for Serbian citizens, as well as the elimination of informality and also the elimination of suspicious financing of groups that have now been proven to be problematic even for the Serbian community itself, as evidenced by the recent case in Banjska, a terrorist attack that occurred there," Ukaj said.