Kosovo does not recognise Serbian passport, Valley residents feel discriminated against

Residents of the Presevo Valley, despite having applied repeatedly for permission to stay in Kosovo, the same still do not possess such documents, and let alone our country's citizenship. They are also feeling discriminated against in other ways. Recently, border police are not allowing circulation with the Serbian passport, until interior affairs ministry officials say it is based on the achieved provisions of the 2011 Brussels Agreement.

Agreements reached for free movement reached between Pristina and Belgrade have not been implemented until this time. Such a thing says A.H, which under anonymity, for Kosova Prees has shown that now 22 years, since he lives in Switzerland, he has always traveled with these documents.

The same two months ago has reserved the flight ticket to Kosovo, for which relatives have suggested that it not depart because it will not be allowed to enter Kosovo.

I haven't come to Kosovo for two years because of some health problems. Two months ago, I reserved the ticket to come. Some of my family members, but even the Kosovo society here, have had a problem, and I've met them. Then I'm bound to anul ticket, I don't dare to risk it to go”, she says.

She also shows that as resident of the Presevo Valley, she has a problem possessing Kosovo documents, even though she has applied many times.

I've been known not to be allowed to enter Kosovo with Serbian passport, I've been travelling with this document for 22 years. Kosovo is now only accepting Serbian ID, but these days have expired the ID deadline. No one has informed us that we can no longer travel with the Serbian passport... We also have trouble extracting Kosovo documents, are long and complex procedures. I can't stay out of Switzerland long enough to fix these documents because of the health problems I have”, says A.H.

Artan Murati as well as citizens from the valley, says that if Kosovo wants to impose full reciprocity on the passport issue, then all Albanians of the Valley should be provided with Kosovo documents.

The Republic of Kosovo must take into account the issue of Albanians in the Presevo Valley and should not take steps that would further harm this group of people, both oppressed and discriminated against. If the Republic of Kosovo wants to impose full reciprocity on the passport issue, then it must make sure that all Kosovo Albanians in the Valley” are equipped with Kosovo documents, Murati says.

Murati considers there are still many Kosovars living in Kosovo and are not equipped with documents from this country.

Kosovo cannot prevent the freedom of moving these Albanians, because it would isolate and make life difficult even further. It is a disaster that many Albanians from the Valley still live for years in Kosovo have not been equipped with Kosovo documents. The state of Kosovo dares not discriminate against the valley Albanians with thoughtless actions”, he adds.

In this regard, in a response to KosovoPress, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has not provided details, but according to them this is based on agreements reached in Brussels for free movement achieved between Pristina and Belgrade in July 2011.

The citizens of both sides (with permanent residence) should be able to travel freely inside or through each other's territory. Each side will implement, as soon as it is operationally applicable, a system of crossing the border of citizens of the other side with IDs. Each side can implement a system where IDs will be accompanied by written “input-ex2> for persons from the other side who want to pass trans to a third state”, the MPB response reported

Even according to Kosovo Police spokesman Bucky Kelani, crossing the border between the Republic of Kosovo and Serbia is regulated by the 2011 Movement Freedom Agreement.

Serbia's prime minister, Ana Brnabiq, has reacted to this, saying that the stop to access Serbian passports is the best indication that “-state” is unknown “who drinks and who pays”.