The US expressed “deep disappointment” from the decision of the Kosovo government to close nine branches of Serbian post offices in Northern Kosovo, reports the Kosovo newspaper “Koha ditore“. According to Washington, these actions are “unilateral and uncoordinated”, quoted by BTA.
On Monday, Kosovo police closed nine branches of Serbian post offices in Kosovo's northern municipalities, which Kosovo authorities say were operating illegally. The police said they received the information about this from the Regulatory Authority for Electronic and Postal Communications (ARKEP). Three branches of the bank were closed each in Severna Mitrovica and Leposavich, two in Zvechan and one – in Zubin Potok, populated areas where mostly Kosovo Serbs live.
Various payments from Serbia to local Serbs are made through the Serbian post offices in Kosovo. Belgrade does not recognize Kosovo's declared independence in 2008. The two countries are conducting a dialogue to normalize relations under the auspices of the European Union.
A few months ago, the Kosovo authorities banned the use of the Serbian dinar as a means of payment in the Republic of Kosovo and closed six branches of the Serbian “Post Bank” in Northern Kosovo. Kosovo defines as illegal the Serbian institutions in the northern part of the country, which is mainly inhabited by Serbs.
„Kosovo's uncoordinated actions expose Kosovo citizens and (NATO's peacekeeping force in Kosovo) KFOR to great danger, unnecessarily exacerbate regional tensions and undermine Kosovo's reputation as a reliable international partner,” said in a communique the US Embassy in Pristina, published last night.
The United States called on the Kosovo government to end further unilateral actions “and to return to its constructive engagement within the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue to resolve issues related to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia”.
The EU also called the actions of the Kosovo government “unilateral and uncoordinated”.
The spokesperson of the EU, Peter Stano, stated in a communique that the closure of the branches of the Serbian post offices in Kosovo is a violation of the agreements reached within the dialogue.
„As part of the agreements (within the Belgrade & Pristina dialogue) on telecommunications reached in 2013 and the Action Plan agreed in 2015, the two sides agreed to discuss the postal services of “ later stage“, thereby accepting that the problem can be addressed within the dialogue”, Stano said.
According to Stano, this was also accepted by the Regulatory Authority for Electronic and Postal Communications.
„The EU expects the countries to develop constructive ideas that will serve as a basis for a solution. Unilateral and uncoordinated actions cannot provide a solution to this or any other problem related to the process of normalization (of relations) between Kosovo and Serbia”, Stano also stated.
He added that the closure of existing services for Kosovo Serbs without a new agreement agreed in advance “will negatively affect their daily lives and the living conditions of this community”.
The EU called on the Government of Kosovo to review its decision and find an agreed solution to this issue within the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue.