On Saturday, the US Ambassador to Pristina, Jeff Hovenier, accused the Kosovo government of recent actions that are inciting ethnic tensions in the country, negatively affecting ethnic Serb members and other minority communities. According to him, these actions are unnecessarily increasing ethnic tensions and, as a consequence, restricting the United States' ability to effectively advocate for Kosovo on the international stage.
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Ambassador Hovenier mentioned recent police operations during the week by the Kosovo Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the offices of parallel institutions supported by Serbia in the municipalities of Dragash, Peja, Istog, and Klina in western Kosovo. He also referred to the police seizure of Serbian dinars and a vehicle transporting social welfare payments from Serbia. He called on Kosovo authorities to ensure that individuals intended to benefit from these social welfare payments receive them without delay. Ambassador Hovenier urged that issues related to structures supported by Serbia be addressed through facilitated dialogue by the European Union.
The United States Government is deeply concerned about recent actions by authorities of the Government of Kosovo that have a direct and negative effect on members of the ethnic Serb and other minority communities in Kosovo. Read my full statement: pic.twitter.com/CHhK88kCSr
— Ambassador Jeff Hovenier (@USAmbKosovo) February 3, 2024
On Friday, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, announced the closure of parallel structures in Gorazhdec, Osojane, and Videja, emphasizing the end of illegality. He asserted that Serbia's only institution within Kosovo will be its embassy in Pristina.
Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vučić, condemned Kosovo's police operations on Friday, attributing them to the decision of the so-called Central Bank of Kosovo to exclusively use the euro for cash transactions starting from February 1. He accused Kosovo of attempting ethnic cleansing against Serbs and called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.
The US ambassador reiterated the United States' request for Kosovo to delay the implementation of the amended regulation by the Central Bank of Kosovo. This regulation, which came into effect on February 1, states that the euro is the only currency allowed for cash transactions in Kosovo.
Kosovo authorities have left open the possibility of a transitional period to address the concerns of the Serb community that continues to use the Serbian dinar. However, the United States and the European Union have called on Kosovo to postpone the Central Bank's decision immediately, which was not pre-consulted.
Ambassador Jeff Hovenier restated the United States' request "for Kosovo to delay the implementation of the amended regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo until satisfactory procedures are put in place in line with European standards and until the population is sufficiently informed about the transition of their benefits."
Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vučić, accused authorities in Kosovo that by the decision to stop the use of the Serbian dinar, they aim for the ethnic cleansing of Serbs. He stated that he would seek an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Kosovo, Glauk Konjufca, said that the Serbian dinar has always been illegal in the country and has been misused by Serbia to finance parallel structures that have carried out illegal and dangerous actions against the state of Kosovo.
Authorities in Pristina stated that channels of communication between the Central Bank of Kosovo and Serbia's bank should be opened for this issue, but the Serbian president dismissed such a possibility, emphasizing that it would imply recognition of Kosovo's independence, which Serbia continues to oppose.