In Kosovo, are not valid old Serbian registration plates
Kosovo Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sasa Rasic said for M-Magazine about the car registration and opening of Kosovo Interior Ministry Office in northern part of Mitrovica.
MITROVICA - Mr. Rasic for two years at the Centre for Civil Services in northern part was handed over around 10,000 applications.
How many Serbs took Kosovo documents in this center?
It is correct; since the center was opened on July 2 2010 citizens have submitted around 10,000 requests for different services. Of these, around 85 percent of the requests were Serbs. The requirements are related on the issuance of various Kosovo documents from passports, identification cards, birth certificates and re-registration of cars in KS or RKS plates.
How much is actually available Center for Civil services for citizens?
It is accessible, works five days a week on it, Serbs and Albanians. What is important is that we those people who work at the Centre do not watch on ethnic affiliation. We are trying that there work professionals who highly responsible do their job. Employees in that office speak Serbian and Albanian language, so that citizens certainly shall be satisfied with the services which are provided to them in this institution.
Will the citizens from June 1 st will be able to manage vehicles which are registered with old Serbian plates which have letters of Kosovo cities?
Let us say immediately that the decision on the abolition of old plates with Kosovo cities prefixes was fruit of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels. As one of the conclusions of that dialogue, which refers on the freedom of movement, is and conclusion that drivers can not drive in Kosovo with those vehicles which are registered with old Serbian plates. We in the Ministry of Internal Affairs , we were flexible and provided to our citizens the opportunity that until May 31 perform the re-registration on KS or RKS tables with minimal financial and procedural burdens. The initial deadline for re-registration was December 31st 2011 , according to the needs on the field that deadline was extended several times and final deadline for re-registration is May 31 Therefore, from June 1st if drivers use old plates and are stopped by the police that will be considered an offense and they shall be penalized in accordance with law .
What is the fate of driver's licenses which issues the Serbian Interior Ministry to citizens who live in Kosovo, will police subtract the documents from June 1st?
What we identified as need and the fact is that 13 generations of drivers, the ones who got driver's licenses after 1999 is that to enable them the simplest way to obtain Kosovo driver's license, based on driving license exchange issued by the authorities of the Republic of Serbia. We will do the appropriate analysis and after June 1st, we do not know how long, will be extended the deadline for driving license exchange. What is significant is that the citizens will be able beside Kosovo driver's license to keep and Serbian driver's license if they want that.
In what way will these decisions shall be implemented in northern Kosovo and have you talked about these issues with EULEX representatives, whose staff are located at crossings Jarinje and Brnjak?
I personally have not spoken with people from EULEX about this. This is a question for Government of Kosovo and I believe that government along with relevant Minister on the best way communicates with EU representatives in Kosovo in order to implement the agreed.
It was announced that soon in northern part of Mitrovica should begin working Administrative Office of Kosovo government. Will this be a big security risk?
The office will start operating and there will be employed a certain number of workers. As for us, the police will do everything that is in our mandate and we will provide an office, to enable people right to work in this office.