Jeremić: Passports for Kosovo residents

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said that biometric passports will be issued to all residents of Kosovo, adding that it is not a political, but a technical issue. Jeremic was a guest on B92 TV late on Sunday and spoke about announcements that Serbia would enter the so-called Schengen white visa regime with the EU list by the beginning of next year, stating that “nothing is over until it is over”. Jeremic: Passports for Kosovo residents But, he continued that "if he were a betting man", he would put his money on Serbian citizens being able to travel without visas throughout the EU starting January 1, 2010. All Serbian citizens, in accordance with the Constitution and laws, must be able to receive new passports if they ask for them, but a “special security check” will be done for Kosovo residents asking for passports, since there are “different security circumstances there”, Jeremic explained. He expects that the European Commission will give its officials stance on August 1 regarding Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia and whether these countries have fulfilled all the conditions for entering the visa-less regime next year. The minister said that Serbia’s inclusion on the white Schengen list no longer faces any technical obstacles or political problems, but stated that there “should be a dose of reserve because nothing is over until its over”. “In the coming months there will be several EU expert missions coming which will determine whether Serbia has fulfilled all necessary conditions for the visa-less regime,” Jeremic said, adding that a decision will also be made by EU member-state prime ministers and foreign ministers on the issue in the fall. He said that expert missions will be arriving in Serbia over the next few months to check on the issuing of passports, border control and the implementation of various laws.

Jeremić: Passports for Kosovo residents

But, he continued that "if he were a betting man", he would put his money on Serbian citizens being able to travel without visas throughout the EU starting January 1, 2010.

All Serbian citizens, in accordance with the Constitution and laws, must be able to receive new passports if they ask for them, but a “special security check” will be done for Kosovo residents asking for passports, since there are “different security circumstances there”, Jeremić explained.

He expects that the European Commission will give its officials stance on August 1 regarding Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia and whether these countries have fulfilled all the conditions for entering the visa-less regime next year.

The minister said that Serbia’s inclusion on the white Schengen list no longer faces any technical obstacles or political problems, but stated that there “should be a dose of reserve because nothing is over until its over”.

“In the coming months there will be several EU expert missions coming which will determine whether Serbia has fulfilled all necessary conditions for the visa-less regime,” Jeremić said, adding that a decision will also be made by EU member-state prime ministers and foreign ministers on the issue in the fall.

He said that expert missions will be arriving in Serbia over the next few months to check on the issuing of passports, border control and the implementation of various laws.