Serbia and Montenegro: Update to YUG26544.E of 18 April 1997 on whether the possession of a Serbian and Montenegrin passport by refugees from Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina indicates that such individuals are citizens of Serbia and Montenegro and as to the rights such refugees enjoy; update to ZZZ32097.E of 22 September 1999 on the extent to which ethnic Serb Catholics enjoy the rights to residency, employment, movement and citizenship within Serbia and Montenegro and whether service in either the Yugoslavian military in 1991 or the Croatian military in 1996 affects a Serb Croat's application for citizenship in Serbia and Montenegro; update to YUG38495.E of 12 February 2002 on Serbia and Montenegro's policy on entry into the country of Bosnian Serbs, including the document requirements for entry and whether there are any restrictions (2005)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 7 February 2005 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SCG43269.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Serbia and Montenegro: Update to YUG26544.E of 18 April 1997 on whether the possession of a Serbian and Montenegrin passport by refugees from Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina indicates that such individuals are citizens of Serbia and Montenegro and as to the rights such refugees enjoy; update to ZZZ32097.E of 22 September 1999 on the extent to which ethnic Serb Catholics enjoy the rights to residency, employment, movement and citizenship within Serbia and Montenegro and whether service in either the Yugoslavian military in 1991 or the Croatian military in 1996 affects a Serb Croat's application for citizenship in Serbia and Montenegro; update to YUG38495.E of 12 February 2002 on Serbia and Montenegro's policy on entry into the country of Bosnian Serbs, including the document requirements for entry and whether there are any restrictions (2005), 7 February 2005, SCG43269.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/42df61801d.html [accessed 21 May 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. |
In a 1 February 2005 letter to the Research Directorate, the attaché officer of the Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro, in Ottawa, provided the following information.
As to whether the possession of a Serbian and Montenegrin passport by refugees from Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina indicates that such individuals are citizens of Serbia and Montenegro, the attaché indicated that yes, "[e]veryone with [a] passport of Serbia and Montenegro is considered a citizen of Serbia and Montenegro." The attaché added that this has "always been the case."
As regards the rights enjoyed by refugees from Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, the attaché explained that all refugees that possess a Serbian and Montenegrin passport enjoy the same rights as all other citizens of the country. The enjoyment of these rights is guaranteed and protected by law and by the constitution.
Regarding the extent to which ethnic Serb Catholics enjoy the rights to residency, employment, movement and citizenship within Serbia and Montenegro and whether service in either the Yugoslavian military in 1991 or the Croatian military in 1996 affects a Serb Croat's application for citizenship in Serbia and Montenegro, the attaché indicated that if an ethnic Serb Catholic is a citizen of Serbia and Montenegro, he/she is entitled by law to enjoy all these rights. The attaché also added that "[i]n the passport [forms] there are questions such as: Did you serve [in] the army? Where and when did you serve [in] the army?"
On the issue of Serbia and Montenegro's policy on the entry of Bosnian Serbs into the country, including the document requirements for entry and whether there are any restrictions, the attaché stated that "[e]veryone from BiH [Bosnia and Herzegovina], regardless of [his/her] nationality, can enter Serbia and Montenegro with ID [identification documents], that means that no passport is required."
Additional information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
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.
Reference
Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro, in Ottawa. 1 February 2005. Correspondence from the attaché.
Additional Sources Consulted
Dialog
Internet sites, including: European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), World News Connection (WNC).
