BELGRADE, 1 Feb. Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija under the Serbian government, Petar Petkovic called the decision of the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Pristina to switch from the dinar to the euro an act of violence.
The “First Deputy Prime Minister” of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, said on Wednesday that the “authorities” in Pristina will begin a transition period for local Serbian organizations and citizens from using the dinar to the euro on February 1. Also on Wednesday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic discussed the issue of currency in Kosovo and Metohija with the ambassadors of the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France and Italy. Prior to this, the embassies of these countries in the self-proclaimed republic called on the authorities in Pristina to suspend the implementation of the decision, which effectively prohibits the use of the Serbian dinar.
«It is clear that (Kosovo Albanian «Prime Minister» Albin — ed.) Kurti does not want to abandon his decision and postpone the illegal order to abolish the dinar and the Serbian settlement system in Kosovo and Metohija. We are talking here not about another decision, which are taken every day, but about an act of violence that is directly directed against the preservation of the Serbian people,” Petkovic said following a meeting with representatives of Western countries, which he called one of the most difficult.
«The Serbian people must know that Serbia and President Vucic are behind them, and we will never abandon our people and will fight to protect their rights. Serbs have the right to live in Kosovo and Metohija, to have their own there future, settlement system and for our structures to operate there. We will never give up on this,» he added.