Yugoslavia: Types of identification documents issued by UNMIK to ethnic Albanians in Kosovo; issuing procedures
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 3 September 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | YUG39772.E |
| Reference | 4 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Yugoslavia: Types of identification documents issued by UNMIK to ethnic Albanians in Kosovo; issuing procedures, 3 September 2002, YUG39772.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4e3c31.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the Website of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission to Kosovo (UNMIK), "habitual residents of Kosovo" over the age of 16 years were to be issued a UNMIK identity card upon registration with the Central Civil Registry (CCR) (UNMIK 17 Mar. 2000). 'Habitual residents' are defined as those persons born, or with one parent born, in Kosovo, or those who can prove that they have resided in Kosovo for at least five years continuously (ibid.). According to UNMIK Regulation No. 2000/13 of 17 March 2000, an identity card is issued after identity is established using an official document issued by the state of Yugoslavia or by an agency or organ of the United Nations, or through other documents deemed sufficient by the Registrar (ibid). In addition, the UN stated that for those not living in Kosovo, to receive a card, individuals "must show that they were a resident on or before 1 January 1998," proving identity and/or residency through documentation (ibid. 13 March 2000).
According to one report, the initial stages of registration for the UNMIK identity cards was "plagued" by errors such that the organization was forced to overhaul the system and reissue cards (UN 20 Sept. 2001). The registration phase began in November 2000 and the issuance of identity cards took place in three stages where the first 35,000 cards were distributed in December 2000, followed by 400,000 between February and May 2001 and finally "the remaining 600,000" cards distributed after May 2001 ((ibid. 22 Feb. 2001). By September 2001 "1,121,645 'habitual residents' of Kosovo had registered" including "5,600 Kosovo Turks [and] 48,000 people belonging to the Serb and other communities" (ibid. 20 Sept. 2001).
In addition to the UNMIK identity card, the interim administration has regulated three other identity documents in Kosovo under its mandate.
The Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), as outlined by UNMIK Regulation 1999/8, transforms the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) into a "civilian agency ... charged with providing emergency response and reconstruction services to Kosovo" (UNMIK 9 June 2000). Several reports indicate that, upon approval of the UNMIK and the Kosovo Force (KFOR), provisional members of the KPC receive identity cards (ibid., UNMIK Newsletter Feb. 2000; UN 20 Feb. 2002, 3; ibid. 9 Apr. 2002, 3; ibid. 5 July 2002, 3). The 20 February 2002 KFOR letter to the United Nations Security Council states that "[o]nce the list [of candidate KPC members] has been confirmed by UNMIK, KFOR will register the KPC members and prepare new identity cards" (3). Later reports stated that "KFOR began issuing the new identity cards on behalf of the UNMIK on 15 February [2002]" (UN 9 Apr. 2002, 3) and this process was ongoing in May 2002 (ibid., 5 July 2002, 3).
Regulation No. 2000/18 dated 29 March 2000, provides that citizens of Kosovo may be issued travel documents by the Central Civil Registry (CCR) with the "purpose of facilitating the ability of persons ... to travel outside Kosovo." In May 2000, the European Union "encouraged its members to recognize the travel documents as 'legal title to free movement, subject to visa regulations at the discretion of every State concerned" (UN 8 May 2000).
Referred to as the "UNMIK Travel Document," these are specified as being "the property of UNMIK" (UNMIK 26 Mar. 2002, 2). To receive these documents, an individual over the age of 16 years must complete an application form and present his or her UNMIK identity card (ibid., 3). Although not conferring nationality, only individuals registered with the CCR are considered and the documents are "valid for a period of up to 24 months," (ibid. 29 Mar. 2000). By September 2001, 50,000 of these had been issued to residents (UN 10 Dec. 2001).
Regulation No. 2001/29 of 27 October 2001 specifies that the driver's licenses are issued to habitual residents of Kosovo, "by the competent governmental authority responsible for public services in Kosovo" (2). This document is valid for up to five years and is "issued in English, Albanian and Serbian languages" (ibid. 27 Oct. 2001, 2).
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 to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
United Nations (UN). Bringing Peace to Kosovo News Reports. 20 September 2001 "More than 1 Million Kosovo Residents Registered: UN Mission." _____. 22 February 2001. "Second Phase of Identity Card Distribution Begins in Kosovo." _____. 8 May 2000. "UN Mission Welcomes European Union Recognition of Kosovo Travel Documents." United Nations Interim Administration Mission to Kosovo (UNMIK). 26 March 2002. Administrative Direction No. 2002/6. "Implementing UNMIK Regulation No. 2000/18 on Travel Documents." _____. 27 October 2001. Regulation No. 2001/29. "On Documents Permitting the Operation of Vehicles in Kosovo and Other Related Matters." _____. 9 June 2000. "Kosovo Protection Corps." _____. 29 March 2000. Regulation No. 2000/18. "On Travel Documents." _____. 17 March 2000. Regulation No. 2000/13. "On the Central Civil Registry." _____. 13 March 2000. Press Release UNMIK/PR/190. "Civil Registration Ready to Start." _____. February 2000. UNMIK Newsletter No. 27. "Pec." United Nations. Security Council. 5 July 2002. "Letter Dated 3 July 2002 from the Secretary-General Addressed to the President of the Security Council." _____. 9 April 2002. "Letter Dated 5 April 2002 from the Secretary-General Addressed to the President of the Security Council." _____. 20 February 2002. "Letter Dated 20 February 2002 from the Secretary-General Addressed to the President of the Security Council."
