The Government of Kosovo does not recognize Serbian passports despite the decision of the EU

The Government of Kosovo will not recognize passports issued by the Coordination Administration of Serbia, and analyst Visar Imeri assesses that decision as unclear and the product of non-constructive behavior.

The passport that the Coordination Administration of Serbia issues mainly to Serbs in Kosovo has been added to the list of disagreements between the Kosovo government and the European Union.

Now that the EU has officially enabled visa-free travel for holders of that passport, the government of Kosovo promises not to recognize that document.

– Nothing has changed in relation to the previous positions we expressed on that issue. Therefore, those passports are not recognized – said Kljisman Kadiu, adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bisljimi.

Despite the fact that the government has an answer or an official position that it does not recognize these passports, analyst Visar Imeri says that the government should provide additional explanations in case there is an agreement with Serbia on this issue.

– There were several reports that said that ID cards are accepted by the Republic of Kosovo, and now, if it accepts ID cards, the government must tell us why it refused to accept passports, because it is the same logic. If you have accepted an identity card, the same state structure of Serbia also issues a passport, where is the difference – said Imeri.

He believes that the decision of the EU, as well as the new position in relation to Kosovo, is expected.

– I think it is alarming at this moment. The policy of spite, non-cooperation, collision, non-constructiveness, the policy of almost childish bragging about the words sovereignty and dignity can cost us dearly – Imeri added.

In the eyes of the Serbian community, the decision to cancel visas for holders of Serbian passports is considered fair and a step that eliminates discrimination.

Journalist Branislav Krstić claims that out of about 80,000 people with these passports, about 30,000 are Albanians. At least officially, these figures were never published.

The issue that the government in Pristina has not clarified is how the identity cards issued by Serbian structures, where Kosovo municipalities are recognized as part of Serbia, are viewed. On the field, citizens of Serbia move normally without any problems.