24 January 2013

EULEX has handed over 972 certified copies of Civil Registry Books to the Civil Registration Agency of Kosovo.

This batch of certified copies of Civil Registry Books covers the municipalities of Lipjan/Lipljan (489 copies), Obiliq/Obilić (264 copies) and Fushë Kosovë/ Kosovo Polje (219 copies).

Tereza Dineva from the EULEX Advisory Unit on Internal Matters said that “through the certified copies of civil status registers, the Civil Registration Agency will be able to establish a fully reliable civil registry system in Kosovo, one record for one person, with correct and single identity, thus assisting the needs of the people of Kosovo “.

The copies were handed over to Abedin Mehmeti, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Registry Agency of Kosovo.

“We consider that today’s handover of the certified copies not only is important for the Agency, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but for all citizens of Kosovo, as it contributes to the creation of a reliable civil registry”, said Abedin Mehmeti.

These copies have been produced and certified in the last two months, as part of a large scale project in based in Nis, involving EULEX, EUSR and the Danish Refugee Council, and the teams from Kosovo and Serbia.

It is estimated that there are approximately 12,036 registry books in Serbia. The certified copies of the original registry books are part of the EU facilitated dialogue agreement reached on the 2nd of July 2011 between Pristina and Belgrade.

EULEX until now has handed over 1331 certified copies of Civil Registry Books.