UN to hold an extraordinary session on Kosovo at Serbia's request

BELGRADE, Serbia

Serbia’s foreign minister said Tuesday that the UN Security Council will hold an extraordinary session on Kosovo on Thursday.

Ivica Dacic told state-run Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) that the session will be held at 9 p.m. Serbian time (2000GMT).

Serbia on Monday requested an emergency session of the Security Council in response to the Kosovo government's decision to adopt the euro for cash payment transactions, effectively eliminating the Serbian dinar.

Serbia's ambassador to the UN, Nemanja Stevanovic, submitted the request to the political adviser of the Guyanese mission to the UN. Guyana is presiding over the Security Council this month.

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

The 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 Serbian 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.