The Prime Minister of Kosovo and Serbia’s President joined Council members in a heated dialogue centred on new guidelines, which got here into pressure on 1 February.
The Central Financial institution of Kosovo regulation made the Euro, not the Serbian dinar, the one foreign money allowed for money transactions. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, however it’s not acknowledged by Serbia.
Briefing the Council, Caroline Ziadeh, the Particular Consultant of the Secretary-Common and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), stated the brand new laws will have an effect on tens of hundreds of Kosovo-Serbs dwelling in 4 northern municipalities and, extra broadly, the economic system, which is determined by their buying energy.
She said restricted public clarification was supplied, even if, since 1999, the dinar has served because the de facto major foreign money for money and business transactions in Kosovo-Serb majority areas.
“Regardless which aspect takes them and what justifications are offered, and within the absence of unambiguous public communications, such actions predictably exacerbate an surroundings of insecurity and distrust,” she stated, including that unilateral actions are “trigger for nice concern”.
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Current incidents
Regardless of optimistic momentum on the finish of 2023, from an power highway map to customs documentation, she raised issues about current incidents.
On Thursday, a cash-transfer truck was prevented entry into Kosovo, whereas some 4 million dinars confiscated by the Kosovo police on 3 February within the Pejë/Peć municipality nonetheless await judicial and administrative motion, she stated.
Tensions between authorities in Kosovo and Serbia have periodically erupted lately, together with variations over vehicle licence plates and anti-smuggling operations alongside spates of violence.
“Neither the Central Financial institution of Kosovo’s new regulation, nor these current Kosovo police operations, have contributed to de-escalation, as repeatedly known as for by worldwide interlocutors,” she stated.
Belgrade and Pristina talks
Kosovo and Serbia have been concerned in European Union-led talks for greater than a decade with a view to normalizing relations, however negotiations stalled final September following a shootout between a Serbian man and Kosovo police that left 4 useless.
Calling on Pristina and Belgrade to proceed their dialogue, the Particular Consultant stated that upholding the rule of regulation is important, and all associated actions should be anchored within the precept of human rights.
“It’s essential that efforts in the direction of negotiated and mutually accepted options don’t falter,” she stated. “Steady effort to construct better mutual belief and respect are the one viable path to stability, prosperity and safety.”
For a full abstract of this and different conferences, go to UN Conferences Protection in English and French.
