Zigmanov: Civil and political rights violated in Kosovo, the dinar ban hinders life for the Serbs

Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue in the Government of Serbia, Tomislav Zigmanov, stated at the 140th meeting of the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva that the civil and political rights of the Serbs and other non-Albanians were being violated in Kosovo, occurring through ethnic discrimination in all institutions.

Zigmanov leads the Serbian delegation currently in Geneva, presenting Serbia's report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights before the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Zigmanov emphasized that Serbia was addressing the Committee at a time when, in one part of its territory, Kosovo, the Serbs and other members of non-Albanian communities faced institutional and systemic violations of civil and political rights.

These violations, as he explained, occurred through ethnic discrimination in all institutions, as well as through the denial of voting rights to the Serbs.

"The ban of the dinar as a means of payment in the Serbian community is currently underway. This generally hinders the lives of the Serbs, as wages, pensions, scholarships, financing for soup kitchens, subsidies for around 2,000 households, and other expenses are paid through the dinar currency," Zigmanov emphasized, as stated by the Government of Serbia.

He requested the United Nations Human Rights Committee to request a report from UNMIK on the implementation of standards from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in the territory of Kosovo. At the same time, he called on the Committee to inspect the human rights situation in that part of Serbia's territory.

The delegation of the Republic of Serbia includes representatives from ministries responsible for justice, internal affairs, foreign affairs, information and telecommunications, and human and minority rights.

Additionally, the Serbian delegation includes representatives from state bodies responsible for Kosovo, refugees, migrations, and missing persons. A part of the state delegation is also Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, Milan Milanovic.