Ethnic Serbs In Northern Kosovo Protest Against New Currency Rules

Hundreds of ethnic Serbs in North Mitrovica in northern Kosovo demonstrated on February 12 against a new regulation targeting Serbia's currency, the dinar. The restrictions that took effect on February 1 ban financial institutions from using any currency other than the euro for local transactions. Even though it's not a member of the European Union or its currency area, the eurozone, Kosovo unilaterally adopted the euro in 2002 to help bring monetary stability and to simplify and reduce transaction costs inside and outside the country. Belgrade, which has never acknowledged Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, still pays many ethnic Serbs at institutions in Serb-dominated parts of the country -- where an estimated 120,000 ethnic Serbs still live -- in dinars. Many also hold their pensions and get child allowances in dinars. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Balkan Service, click here.