Citizens of central Kosovo half a year without the dinar: We struggle to function, this is a crime

Half a year has passed since the ban on the use of the dinar in Kosovo, and citizens of central Kosovo still cannot withdraw their salaries and pensions in their towns but have to travel to the nearest crossing to collect their earnings. Citizens interviewed by the Kosovo Online portal say that a crime is being committed against them and that they are struggling to function.

Zoran Stevic emphasizes that he spends half of his pension on travel expenses.

"It is hard, we go to Serbia for our pensions. I spend money on taxis, I exchange it there for euros, and half of my pension is gone. I don’t hope that the dinar will return, what is gone will not come back," Stevic says.

Mileva Vucic points out that due to her age, she cannot travel alone to collect her pension.

"It is a redundant question, it’s known that it is very hard for us, especially for us older people, the young ones manage somehow. I think it is a crime, a real crime. My daughter works and helps me with this, otherwise, I couldn’t go to Serbia at my age, it’s absolutely out of the question," Vucic says, adding that she is optimistic that the dinar will be used again in Kosovo.

Bojan Rajkovic says that it is normal for him to pay in euros in Kosovo but points out that it is hardest for pensioners who cannot go to collect their pensions.

"We have been working in euros so far, and I personally do not have any income related to dinars. The biggest problems are for these old people, pensioners, who cannot go to Serbia to withdraw money, they have the most problems, they pay for taxis, buses, it is hard for them, they suffer in this heat," Rajkovic says.

He is not optimistic that the dinar will be used again in Kosovo.

"I don’t think it will, nothing that has been abolished so far has gone back to the way it was," he added.

One passerby points out that Serbs are struggling a lot.

"We are not managing at all, it is horrible. How do we withdraw money? By having to go to Serbia. It's a big question as to what we will do, we have to pay for travel, go back and forth," she emphasizes.

Shefket Beqiri lives in Pristina but is aware of the problem that has arisen due to the ban on the use of the dinar.

"You manage if you can get to Raska or the part where there are dinars, if not, you live with what is imposed, with euros. I believe the dinar will return because the currency is a symbol of a nation. It is just a matter of time," he said.