Belgrade Will Try to Prevent Annulment of Payment Operations with Kosovo

Petar Petkovic/BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC

The authorities in Belgrade have launched diplomatic talks and meetings with the banking system in a bid to prevent the annulment of Serbia's payment operations in Kosovo, the director of the government's Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, said on Jan. 19.

"The attempt to abolish Serbia's payment operations is one of the most severe unilateral decisions made by Kosovo Premier Albin Kurti, the aim of which is the exodus of the Serbian people and [which] strikes at the survival of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija... When you want to abolish someone's salaries, pensions, social benefits, it is clear that you want to deal with them" in a final way, Petkovic told public broadcaster RTS.

In his words, the decision is illegal, while on the other hand the Pristina authorities are unlawfully using the euro and declaring the dinar illegal in Kosovo.