Why was the census deadline extended? Kosovo Statistics Agency Vice Chairman Speaks

The deputy head of the Kosovo Statistics Agency (ASK), Ilir Berisha, has indicated the reasons for the government's recent decision to extend the census deadline in Kosovo and preparations that have been implemented so far.

Berisha has indicated that the requirement for extending the registration deadline has come from the AK, and they had proposed a two-month extension.

This decision has been made since the start date of the census, which was set before for September 1, 2023, appears to have been short to carry out all necessary preparations.

The “in fact has been the request of the AKS that we sent to the prime minister to make a decision to postpone for two months, this has come as a result after last September it was decided to keep the census on the ground on September 1st of 2023. A lot of seeing that this was a short period based on the experience we had in 2011 considered for AK is easier for the procurement procedure and other procedures to be managed by the ONOPS organisation as we had done in 2011”, he has declared for RTV Dukagini.

He also stressed that a large portion of the 2011 registration budget was provided by donors and needed management of the organisation U n NPOS, while this time they had tried to reach a similar but unsuccessful agreement.

But the difference was that in 2011 a large portion of the budget more than 80 percent was provided by donors, and it was the donor's request that the trust fund be established which must be managed by UNPOS, while our efforts have not been reached. But even seeing that the period was very short then we with an official letter asked the prime minister to make a decision to give two more to me”, Berisha has said.

Berisha has also said all preparations have been made, including the establishment of municipal commissions in most municipalities, in addition to the four northern municipalities.

He has also mentioned that they are already in the intensive phase of realising other procurement activities.

The “in fact now all preparations have been made in the majority of municipalities ruled out four northern municipalities, the questionnaire has been finalised after a long period of meetings that we have also had, as well, all other parts of the procurement have been realised we are in the intensive phase of realising other procurement activities”, it has indicated.

Among other things, Berisha has confirmed that the population registration process will begin in November, and that they have a period of six weeks to ensure that this process is conducted successfully.