Serbia and Montenegro: Update to YUG39772.E of 3 September 2002 on the types of identification documents issued by UNMIK to ethnic Albanians in Kosovo; issuing procedures
Types of Identification Documents
Country Reports 2003 reported that since 2000, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) had issued roughly 1.3 million identity documents, 406,000 travel documents, and 182,000 driver's licences (25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 2d). UNMIK Police also issue Weapon Registration Cards for hunting and recreational purposes (UNMIK n.d.). UNMIK further stated that "[a]t the present time, hunting and shooting are not permitted in Kosovo. The Weapon Registration Card only permits the possession of hunting and recreational weapons - not their use" although no specific time frame was mentioned (ibid.).
Identity cards and travel documents were issued to "those whose citizen identification documents were confiscated during the war," but UNMIK regulations also stipulated that any registered habitual resident of Kosovo was entitled to UNMIK travel documents (Country Reports 2003 25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 2.d). A report by the UN Secretary-General stated that many non-Albanian minorities had had their names "Albanized" in official documents, including identity cards (UN 14 Apr. 2003). However, the report also indicated that when UNMIK is made aware of these "violations," it would endeavour to fix the problem, in some cases by reissuing documents with the correct spelling of the bearer's name (ibid.).
However, of the 103,000 members of ethnic minority communities in Kosovo (including 71,000 Serbs), Country Reports 2003 indicated that "fewer than 1,000...[had] applied for UNMIK travel documents" (25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 2d.). The report also mentioned that Serbs often had access to Serbian identity and travel documents, and that "[m]any Kosovo Albanians [had] also obtained Serbian documents to enable travel beyond the countries that recognized the UNMIK travel document" (Country Reports 2003 25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 2.d.).
Among the hundreds of thousands of Serbs who left Kosovo during the 1999 war to go to Serbia proper, thousands live in official and unofficial refugee camps (IWPR 10 Feb. 2003). Many Serbs who live in unofficial camps do not have identity cards and therefore have no access to many social services, while those Serbs who live in officially recognized camps receive identity cards issued by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), which permit them to look for and benefit from employment and to receive health insurance (ibid.).
As of 8 November 2004, UNMIK travel documents were recognized in the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Uzbekistan (UNMIK).
Issuing Procedures
On 16 December 2004, UNMIK announced that it would facilitate the issuing procedures for identity cards and travel documents (KNA). A UNMIK spokesperson stated "[t]he changes address some of the most frequent problems that Kosovo residents encounter when applying for documents at civil registration offices" (KNA 16 Dec. 2004). While previous applicants had experienced difficulty obtaining identity cards because they lacked the supporting documentation needed to prove their identity and eligibility (for example, birth certificates and identity documents with photographs), as of December 2004 applicants with missing documents could obtain UNMIK-issued adult birth certificates from municipal civil status offices (ibid.). Those applicants who do not have identity documents with photographs may also have two witnesses verify their identity, thereby permitting the applicants to have the required supporting documents (ibid.). In addition, applicants will have to go through a screening process (verifying their identity and eligibility) only once; for example, any additional applications for civil registration or travel documentation will not require screening (ibid.). The KosovoLive News Agency (KNA) reported that, prior to these changes, many Kosovars, especially ethnic Serbs, could not obtain identity documentation from UNMIK because of the obstacles involved in the application process (ibid.).
In order to obtain a Weapon Registration Card, the applicant, who must be 18 years of age or older, reports to the local police station in order to complete a weapon registration form (UNMIK n.d.). After presenting several identity documents, the applicant receives a Temporary Weapon Registration Document (ibid.). Authorities then verify the information relating to the weapon and issue, for free, a Weapon Registration Card, valid for two years (ibid.). .
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003. 25 February 2004. "Serbia and Montenegro - Kosovo." United States Department of State. Washington, DC. <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27874.htm> [Accessed 31 Jan. 2005]
Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). 10 February 2003. Balkan Crisis Report. Boris Drenca. "Invisible Serb Refugees." <http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?archive/bcr3/bcr3_200302_405_4_eng.txt> [Accessed 31 Jan. 2005]
KosovaLive News Agency (KNA) [Pristina]. 16 December 2004. "UNMIK Introduces Simpler and More Efficient Rules for Obtaining IDs." (FBIS-EEU-2004-1217 20 Dec. 2004/Dialog)
United Nations (UN) Security Council. 14 April 2003. Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. <http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/NO3/316/63/PDF/NO331663.pdf?OpenElement> [Accessed 31 Jan. 2005]
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). 8 November 2004. (S/2003/421) "List of Countries Which Recognize the UNMIK Travel Document." <http://www.unmikonline.org/misc/traveldocs.htm> [Accessed 31 Jan. 2005]
_____. n.d. "Public Notice: Hunting & Recreational Weapon Registration." <http://www.unmikonline.org/justice/infocampaigns/publicnotice_v7fina_eng.pdf> [Accessed 31 Jan. 2005]
Additional Sources Consulted
The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) did not respond to requests for information within time constraints.
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Freedom House, Human Rights Watch (HRW), World News Connection (WNC).