Petkovic: Real reason behind to banning dinar is expulsion of Serbs

The real reason for the decision to ban the dinar is the expulsion of Serbs, says Petkovic

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic warned today in conversation with the German ambassador to Serbia, Anke Konrad, that it is clear the real reason for Pristina's decision to ban the dinar in the Province is the expulsion of Serbs and the abolition of Serb institutions in Kosovo and Metohija.

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He pointed out that the transparent intention of Pristina is to, with this decision, completely close the issue of the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO), given that in the agreements signed so far, financial support for Serbs is envisaged through Belgrade's financing of the institutions.

He said that Belgrade will continue to insist on the formation of the ZSO, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija said in a statement today.

Petkovic stressed that the topic of the conversation in Brussels (last week) was the "completely unreasonable and dangerous decision made by Albin Kurti" to ban the dinar and thereby jeopardize the payment of salaries, pensions and social welfare to 100,000 Serbs and other non-Albanians in the Province.

He drew attention to the fact that this decision also prevents the functioning of schools, hospitals, kindergartens and other Serb institutions, which are denied the opportunity to acquire basic funds, but also to settle monthly bills.

Petkovic added that the failure of Pristina's chief negotiator, Besnik Bislimi, to travel in Brussels, means that Pristina continued to obstruct the dialogue and jeopardize efforts to normalize relations in the Province, while Belgrade, as always, showed that it considers talks to be the most effective barrier to escalation of tensions and a guarantee of the Serbs' security.

He stressed that Belgrade will continue to insist on finding a permanent and sustainable solution to this problem, which will enable the survival of the Serb people in Kosovo and Metohija.

In this sense it is necessary for the Postanska Stedionica bank and post offices to continue operating in Kosovo and Metohija, which is the only way to provide Serbs with the payment of their wages and all other income, he said.

According to a decree adopted by the so-called central bank in Pristina, as of February 1, the only currency in which cash payments can be made in Kosovo and Metohija is the euro, which means a ban on the Serbian dinar.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)