The citizens of North Mitrovica and those of Zveçan have welcomed the liberalization of visas for citizens of Kosovo. Many of them, besides confirming that they have been provided with the passport of Kosovo, they valued the free movement of the Serbian community in the Schengen zone as important. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced that the number of Kosovo passport applications has doubled in the four northern municipalities
Serbian citizens of the North Mitrovica Municipality were informed on Monday about the travel procedures in the Schengen zone, through the campaign organized by the Government of Kosovo. The citizens of this municipality have said that the decision for visa-free movement in EU countries from January 1, 2024 has eased their travel procedures. Some of whom KOHA spoke with have confirmed that they have already been provided with a Kosovo passport.
"Now I will travel more easily. We don't need to wait for visas. We expect to enjoy different experiences in life, I have been equipped with a Kosovo passport since I was 18 years old", declared Ema Lasković, a citizen from the north of Mitrovica.
And one of the elderly citizens of this municipality said that if he needs a passport, he will apply to get one.
"I have had the identity card since it existed. First of UNMIK, then this. I have not received the passport, but if needed, I will get it", he said, without wanting to be identified.
Another citizen from the municipality of North Mitrovica called the lifting of visas an important decision.
"People should travel freely, we should not be based on political problems. It is important that people travel freely regardless of whether it is Kosovo, Serbia or Montenegro. It is a deliberate decision", he declared.
Gazmend Dushi, from the Office for Public Communication at the Prime Minister, has shown that citizens' interest in receiving information about visa liberalization and what will happen after January 1, 2024 has increased.
"As can be seen, citizens are interested in receiving information about visa liberalization and what will happen after January 1, 2024. We are mainly distributing brochures in Serbian and English. The campaign ends this week, tomorrow we continue in Leposaviq and Zubin-Potok", said Dushi.
The minibus carrying materials for informing citizens about the rules of free movement in EU countries continued in the municipality of Zveçan.
Days ago the campaign for the liberalization of visas was held in Pristina, and in the following days it will continue in Zubin-Potok, Leposaviq, Graçanica and will end this week in Pristina.
Nora Fetoshi, official for communication with the public at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, told KOHA that the number of citizens in the four northern municipalities to be equipped with the passport of the Republic of Kosovo has doubled, after the decision to liberalize visas.
The data provided by KOHA say that from January 1, 2023 until now, 557 citizens have applied in the Municipality of Leposaviq, 779 in Zubin-Potok, 586 in Zveçan, while 3879 in North Mitrovica.
After a long history of efforts, promises and rejections, the EU legal act for visa liberalization for Kosovo was signed on April 19, 2023 in Strasbourg.