Kosovo Serbs protest ban on Serbian dinar

BELGRADE, Serbia

Hundreds of Serbs in northern Kosovo gathered Monday in the town of Mitrovica to protest a ban on the Serbian dinar as of Feb 1.

Serbs from various regions of Kosovo and representatives of the Serbian List, the largest Serbian party in the country, demanded the cancellation of the regulation preventing the use of the Serbian dinar and that authorities in Pristina continue to pay salaries, pensions and social assistance in the currency.

Demonstrators carried banners saying "We will not even be able to find food without social assistance,” ''Europe, open your eyes!" and "I have earned my pension throughout my life.”

On Feb. 1, Kosovo adopted the euro for cash payment transactions, despite concerns expressed by ethnic Serbs living in the country's north.

The country’s central bank announced the decision on Jan. 18, saying currencies other than the euro can only be used in Kosovo for physical safekeeping or bank accounts.

Kosovo’s decision sparked outrage because until now, ethnic Serb communities in Kosovo have been using the dinar, the official currency of neighboring Serbia, at both state and commercial institutions. Many local Serbs have an attachment or even allegiance to Serbia.

Western countries including the US, France, Italy, Germany and the UK have urged Kosovo to halt implementation of the currency regulation.