Kosova with Biometric passports in 2010

Erind Kurti – Albanian Times

Government of Kosova has declared that in 2010 the authorities will issue biometric passports but an exact date has yet to be confirmed.

In an interview for Albanian Times the adviser of interior ministry of Kosova, Mr Fisnik Rexhepi said that the first biometric passports will be issued in the second half of the year. Mr Rexhepi could not give an exact date when he was asked by Albanian Times, but he said that we are working closely with the local governments on data being gathering to help speed the process.

Legislation was brought forward in the parliament at the end of last year and has yet to be approved and signed Mr Rexhepi said.

Main responsibly lies with interior ministry but there are other procedures and other institutions involved in issuing process.

European commission has a team in place to help Kosovan authorities on the process which will be monitored by the European Union and this will help Kosova moving towards freedom of travel without a visa in the European Union. In the latest studies by the European Union and Kosovan authorities there are around three million ethnic Kosovan in the European Union with the majority in Germany, Switzerland and the Nordic countries. The majority of Kosovan Diaspora hold European passports with the status being issued at the time of Balkan troubles caused by Titto and Milosevic regime who were forcing the population of Kosova out and pushing in Serb citizens into Kosova.

Kosova has made a great progress moving towards European Union in the last few years. Kosovan authorities are keen and have worked hard moving towards free visa regime and the biometric passports are the last step into getting the status of free movement. Kosova government are hoping now with the biometrics passports being issued Kosovan citizens will be traveling to European Union block in the beginning of 2011.