Vucic refuses to sign EU agreements with Kosovo during showdown at UN Security Council

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti again called on Serbian President Aleksander Vucic to sign the EU-mediated Brussels agreement during a face-off at the UN Security Council on Thursday, but Vucic refused and was scolded by the council president for interrupting and shouting in the assembly.

Vucic requested to speak at the council after Kosovo’s Central Bank recently published regulations stipulating that the euro is the only legal tender in the country and that any other foreign currency cannot be used within the country’s financial system except under specific circumstances.

The decisions irked Belgrade, which objected as some Kosovo Serbs continued to receive payments from Serbia in dinars and use the foreign currency locally. As a result, the European Union and several member states have condemned what they call a “unilateral” move from Kosovo that risks causing further flare-ups between the two countries.

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Responding to claims that Kosovo had taken unilateral decisions in enforcing the single currency rule, Kurti said the two leaders could sign the Brussels agreement as a demonstration of “bilateral action”.

Despite several calls to sign the document, Vucic did not take him up on his offer. This comes following several refusals to sign the document while the EU insists that the verbal agreement alone is legally binding. However, in December, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic sent a letter to Brussels, formally confirming they do not consider the Brussels or Ohrid agreement as legally binding and will not abide by many of its points.

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Serbia has formally refused to comply with the various agreements made between Kosovo and Serbia, brokered by the EU to normalise relations, with Prime Minister Ana Brnabić sending a letter to this effect to the European External Action Service on …

Kurti added, “The basic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, facilitated by the EU, is vital for regional peace. Serbia’s refusal to sign it raises concerns about its commitment to peaceful relations.”

During his speech, Vucic called the actions of Kosovo, in particular what he called a ‘ban’ on the Serbian dinar, a “continuation of systemic attacks” and a “crime against humanity”. He said life in Kosovo is becoming impossible for Kosovo Serbs and accused Kurti of preventing the actions of all health, cultural, and educational institutions that provide the basic conditions for their life there.

“We requested this meeting because of the action of the so-called Bank of Kosovo to ban the dinar. The so-called leadership has continued the attacks on the Serbian population, and it has culminated since their survival in the southern province depends on the budget of Serbia”, he said.

Euractiv has explained previously that there is no ban on the Serbian dinar in Kosovo, and the decision is based on the constitution and the fact the euro has been legal tender in the country since 2022. Furthermore, the rules apply to all currencies, including the dollar, pound, and lek, not just the dollar.

Kurti said in his speech, “The central bank’s regulation does not prohibit Serbia from providing financial support. Any suggestion otherwise is false propaganda aimed at inciting ethnic tensions.”

Serbia unhappy over Kosovo enforcing euro-only currency policy, EU seeks answers

Kosovo will only accept the euro within its borders, a decision that has sparked fears of renewed flare-ups with Serbia as Serbs in the north of the country insist on using Serbian dinars, while the EU called on both sides to avoid any further escalation.

He explained that payments from Serbia to Kosovo can still occur, but they must go through the official banking channels and in the country’s official currency, the euro. Kurti added that euro payments have been made and are made to Kosovo Serbs regularly with no problem, furthermore there are multiple banks and other financial institutions that can facilitate the process for them quickly.

The prime minister continued that the decision to regulate how foreign currency enters the country aligns with national law and international and EU best practices on preventing financial crime. He said it would stop illicit funds from being brought physically over the border of Kosovo and used by criminal structures.

“Belgrade’s hysteria over the central bank regulation stems from the imminent halt to its illegal cash pipeline into Kosovo, not concerns for Serbian citizens’ welfare,” he added.

In his initial speech, Kurti laid down a stream of statistics and figures relating to the financial and social support given to Kosovo Serbs and the rights and benefits they enjoy.

“We proudly say that we implement the Constitution with the highest measures for the protection of minority rights, 20 guaranteed seats in the parliament out of 120 in total, of which ten belong to Serbs in particular. Serbs in Kosovo also have 10 of the 38 municipalities in Kosovo. The Serbian language is the official language everywhere. The idea that Kosovo is carrying out ethnic cleansing or persecution against the Serbian community is simply a lie that has been denied by many international organisations.”

Kurti listed international reports and organisations that have independently debunked many of Vucic’s claims, especially regarding attempts to ethnically cleanse Serbs from Kosovo or the rhetoric that Kosovo Serbs are persecuted or discriminated against in any way.

He also noted international reports that have commended Kosovo on its significant improvements in democracy, governance and transparency, media freedom, and economy, noting that this is a stark contrast to the democratic backsliding in Serbia.

“Serbia’s violent actions and authoritarianism post-war are evident. From promoting genocide denial to violently enforcing it, Serbia continues to terrorise Kosovo.”

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At the beginning of his speech, Kurti also noted the “irony” in being faced with accusations from Serbia about ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity when Vucic was minister of information in the government of Slobodan Milosevic, which committed genocide, ethnic cleansing and multiple massacres in the 90s.

After both leaders spoke, the Russian representative to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, came to Serbia’s defence, accusing Kosovo of ethnic attacks on Serbs and their property and comparing the actions of Kurti to those of Israel in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Switzerland, France, Slovenia, the UK and others called on Serbia to take action over the Banjska terrorist attack, including handing over those wanted internationally in connection with it.

Throughout his speeches, Kurti committed to carrying out extensive information campaigns on the euro transition in Serbian with the Kosovo Serb community. He reassured them they would have assistance every step of the way and no one would be left without access to money or their rights.

Both leaders were granted another opportunity to speak in response to each other’s statements, but Vucic demanded to talk for a third time. When the council president refused and moved to close the session, he shouted loudly in the assembly hall and was told by the president, “Sir, you no longer have the floor.”

While in Kosovo, the entire session was streamed on television, in Serbia, mainstream channels cut the footage after Vucic spoke, preventing citizens from hearing what Kurti had to say.

(Alice Taylor | Euractiv.com)