Government expresses disappointment with EU decision on Kosovo citizens' visas having Serbian passports

Klisman Kadiu, deputy prime minister's adviser, Besnik Bislimi, for Telegrafi, said they are disappointed with the decision made by the EU and that the Serbian passports issued by Serbia continue to remain illegal.

“We express disappointment with the decision made by the European Union regarding the “liberalisation of visas” for holders of illegal passports issued by Serbian authorities, for Kosovo Serb citizens. Any European Union decision did not reverse the fact that those passports continue to remain illegal, in full violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our state, and therefore unacceptable to the Republic of Kosovo. Those passports will continue to be unknown to our authorities”, he said.

In addition, Cadiu said that “each citizen of the country, from each community, has the full right to benefit from free visa movement through the passport of the Republic of Kosovo”.

Therefore, the excuse used by the carrier of these illegal passports will remain isolated, is incorrect and in disparity with reality. And the inexplicable is also the hastyness displayed in making this decision, without proving the facts on the ground, without analyzing the implications that they can and will submit to the implementation of the decision, and without consulting from the beginning our state institutions”, he added.

Also, Kadiu said the decision taken today undermines continued efforts to integrate the Serb community into Kosovo.

Kosovo's “Republic is implementing policies in various areas which are bringing citizens closer to institutions, while and with visa liberalisation for Kosovo, there were significant and tangible increases of citizens from the Serb community who were equipped and equipped with documents from our Republic”, he said, among other things.

Otherwise, today the European Union Council has decided in favour of lifting the visa regime for Kosovo Serb citizens who own Serbia's passports.

The media-made communiqué reportedly has been made at the EU foreign ministers' meeting.

The Council adopted a regulation ensuring that the entire Western Balkan region is subject to the same visa regime, removing the previously applied exemption for Serbian passport holders issued by the Serbian Co-ordination Directorate”, the announcement said.

The European Parliament's Commission for Citizen Freedom and Home Affairs several months ago had approved the visa liberalisation report for Serbian passport carriers living on Kosovo territory.