Residents of Gracanica: A year without the dinar brings uncertainty, hardest for pensioners

For the residents of Gracanica, the past year, during which the use of the dinar was banned, has been extremely difficult. In addition to the time they must set aside to travel to central Serbia to withdraw their monthly payments, this has also been an additional financial burden throughout the entire period.

Jefta Aksic, a resident of Gracanica, says that the ban on using the dinar is a form of mistreatment of Serbs in Kosovo and hopes the issue will be resolved in negotiations in Brussels.

"It is just a complication. People are being harassed, traveling back and forth. This is just a money transfer, why is it so hard to resolve? Negotiations have been going on for so many years, they talk and negotiate, so why can't they solve this? It is purely a technical issue. The important thing is that people have access to their money, that banks take their share, and that the currency is exchanged. This can be easily regulated, it just requires discussion, which is exactly why negotiations in Brussels exist. These are basic concerns for citizens, whether they are Serbs or Albanians," Aksic said.

Slavisa Nojic emphasizes that the ban on the dinar is especially hard on pensioners and hopes a solution will be found for them.

"It is tough, especially for pensioners. They have nowhere to withdraw their pensions, no one accepts the dinar here, and some are forced to wait a long time just to get some money to buy what they need. The cost of traveling to central Serbia is high, and a whole day is needed just for the trip, it is really difficult. I think something should be done about this so that people, especially the elderly, can withdraw their payments here," Nojic said.

Pensioner Zarko Nikolic described the past year as difficult and uncertain.

"What kind of year could it be? Difficult and uncertain. We have to travel to central Serbia to withdraw the pensions we earned. At Merdare, there is a line of trucks, the road is narrow, and one lane is blocked. What is hardest for me is that I now have to go somewhere to get my money, whereas before, it was within reach. I might be able to travel for a few more years, but what happens when I get older? We, and the younger people, may manage for a while, but what about the disabled, the immobile… How will they survive? Does anyone think about that?" Nikolic asked.

An elderly resident of Gracanica, Stojanka Stevic, said that she has to pay for transportation to withdraw her pension, and given her age, traveling to central Serbia is very difficult.

"We have to pay for a vehicle to travel to Serbia, and it is very difficult for us. My leg is in bad shape, and for me, this is really hard," Stevic said.