Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Goran Bogdanovic announced today that the government will pass a law to resolve the issue of financing Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija in a systemic way.

Bogdanovic told Tanjug news agency that around 44,000 citizens in the province used to receive the Kosovo allowance, which was recently revoked by the Serbian Constitutional Court.

He specified 20,758 citizens, who worked in state and socially-owned companies until 1999, were granted the temporary allowance.

Bonus on their existing salaries was allocated to 23,178 citizens who worked in budget-funded institutions, Bogdanovic recalled noting that RSD 1.714 million was allocated for these allowances every month, which makes up somewhat less than RSD 24 billion a year.

The Minister reiterated that the court’s decision must be respected, but noted that it has made it clear that the issue of financing Serbs in the province must be solved in a systemic way, in line with the law, and not by decrees.

Bogdanovic affirmed that his Ministry will soon complete the proposal of a bill on financing citizens in the province, which will then be forwarded to the government and eventually the parliament.