Population census Berisha: The situation in the north is favourable for the process to be carried out in that part as well

Kosovo Statistics Agency head Ilir Berisha told the Online Economy that, under international recommendations that the census be successful, some preconditions are required.

According to him, it is not recommended that this process develop when the political situation is tense, taking into account the situation in the north of the country, he said he hopes that even these Serb majority municipalities will participate in the process.

“In international census recommendations for a successful census, preconditions are required. It is usually required that there is no choice in one country because campaigns can be confused with one another and are not recommended to have the same time area for population registration and for election”.

“Then extraordinary situations such as the case of pandemic or earthquakes, or other natural disasters. The political situation is also considered not recommended to organise population registration in those areas. We believe and hope that peace will prevail and conditions will be created in November for the census to be realised even in these four northern municipalities”, he said.

Berisha added that postponing the population registration process for 1 November has been made due to delaying procedures to deal with the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

Berisha said legislation in Kosovo at the moment there are agreements on large values required longer procedures.

“Sic knows ASS is dedicated to implementing the population registration project, home economies and dwellings as the largest national statistical project in Kosovo as elsewhere in the world. We've started our engagement since 2019, the law was passed in 2022, and in September 2022 the starting date in the field was set on September 1, 2023”.

We tried to reach an agreement as was practical for all procedures to be developed through an agreement with the organisation. U n NOPS, prosecutorial procedures and other activities, seeing that those on the basis of legislation that have been processed with faster procedures, knowing that our current legislation has been proceeding protracted for contracts that have great value. After a few months we failed to sign this agreement and started to carry out our activities through our procedures, then we asked the government to give us another two months”, he said.

The last census in Kosovo was conducted in 2011, while the census, which was due to take place in 2021, has been postponed due to the David-19 pandemic.

According to the 2011 census, the total number of residents in Kosovo is estimated to be around 1.8 million. But since this census did not include residents of Serb majority municipalities in northern Kosovo é Leposaviq, Zubin Potok, Zvecan and North Mitrovica, which at the time had refused to participate in the process. / EO/