Citizens of Strpce: Without the dinar, life is hard for both the people and the merchants

A full six months have passed since the adoption of a regulation by the Central Bank of Kosovo, which practically banned the use of the dinar in Kosovo, and the residents of the municipality of Strpce point out that the situation is becoming increasingly difficult, and that the hardest part for them is traveling, often to Bujanovac, to withdraw money.

Slavisa Dobrosavljevic from Gotovusa told Kosovo Online that the situation without the dinar is hard for both merchants and the people.

"It is much worse than it was, the dinar meant a lot to us Serbs. It is hardest for the merchants, but also for us. Merchants need time to get used to the euro, the dinar was our means of payment. It is very difficult, and it will continue to be," Dobrosavljevic said.

Julija Mladenovic observes that it is hardest for the elderly and the most vulnerable.

"Everyone's life has changed, especially for the most vulnerable, because they cannot go to the border crossing or places where they can exchange money. And for children who receive scholarships and cannot travel, as well as for people with disabilities," Mladenovic said.

Igor Simanovic points out that an additional problem when going to Bujanovac for dinars is the crowd at the border crossings.

"It's difficult, we go to Bujanovac. I went yesterday, and there was a crowd at the border," Simanovic told us.

Damjan Stamenkovic says he is used to paying in dinars and that this situation does not suit him.

"The younger generations are used to paying with cards, taking money from cards, or through mobile applications, and they cannot exchange the money on the card for dinars. Personally, I am not used to paying in euros, and it doesn't suit me as a Serb. There are also travel expenses, the border crossing is not close at all. We are in the south, and all this increases costs and makes the situation even more difficult," Stamenkovic said.