The international non-recognition of Kosovo's personal documents has become a great concern for many citizens of Kosovo, who live abroad.
Osman Berisha from the town of Malisheva in Kosovo, who has been living in Italy for three years now, says that his driver's license is not recognized by the Italian authorities, which, he says, is a problem that is being passed on by the citizens of Kosovo who live in Italy.
"The problem and concern of many citizens I know who live in Italy is the lack of recognition of the Kosovo driver's license. In most cases when the local police stop us, they take our license and give us penalties that are almost unbearable. "Some people I know have been punished by the Italian police because when they were detained, they had a Kosovo driver's license," says Berisha.
He says that in the past there was tolerance from the local police, but now every person who is stopped and has a Kosovo driver's license, they immediately confiscate it.
"I have friends here in Italy who are from Moldova and Albania, and they recognize the driver's license of the country they come from. Those with driver's licenses obtained in their own country can drive in Italy. I have also talked with the Kosovo embassy here in Italy, they know about this problem, but they told me there is nothing we can do. If they have nothing to do, what can we do?!", he adds.
The authorities in Kosovo say that since 2013 they have started negotiations with some of the countries of the European Union to reach a mutual agreement for the international recognition of Kosovo's personal documents, specifically for the recognition of driver's licenses.
The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Government of Kosovo, Izmi Zeka, tells Radio Free Europe that, like other EU countries and Italy, they have not reached a final agreement on the recognition of driver's licenses.
"Since 2013, we have started negotiating with different countries, starting with Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and others, but we have not reached any agreement so far. The last negotiations with the Italian authorities were in August, but we still do not have anything official for a mutual agreement for the recognition of driver's licenses", Zeka emphasizes.
He adds that as the Minister, they have made the appropriate commitments for recognition of driver's licenses and that they do not know the reasons of the states for the final failure to reach these agreements.
"We, as the Minister, have done everything possible to reach an agreement and we are aware of the problems faced by our citizens who live in these states", emphasizes Zeka.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, as part of its efforts for international recognition of the personal documents of citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, has so far signed agreements with the Republic of Albania and North Macedonia.
On the basis of these agreements, the contracting parties mutually recognize the replacement, conversion of valid driving licenses/permits, issued by the competent authorities of the other contracting party, in accordance with their domestic legislation, in favor of holders of driving licenses/permits, who have acquired the right of legal residence - normal residence in the territory of their country.
In February of this year, the Minister of Internal Affairs in the Government of Kosovo, Ekrem Mustafa, had sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the requests for receiving the recommendation for approval in principle with EU countries for mutual recognition of driver's licenses.
Minister Mustafa requested that between the Government of Kosovo and the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Helvetic Confederation, the French Republic and the Republic of Montenegro, an initiative for mutual recognition of driver's licenses should be started.
Radio Free Europe has contacted officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but has not been able to receive any response regarding this matter.
Altin Kelmendi, who has been living in Italy since 2007, has the same problem with his driver's license.
"There are many people who drive with a Kosovo driver's license here in Italy, but the moment they are stopped by the Italian police, their license is confiscated and the penalties are initially 150 euros, but if the case goes to court, then the penalty reaches 9 thousand euros. We are not asking to be recognized with a complete Kosovo driver's license, but to be able to be tested only for driving and not on the theoretical side, since many Kosovar Albanians here in Italy do not know the language well enough to be able to be equipped anymore Italian state patent", says Kelmendi.
Otherwise, the Ministry of Internal Affairs last year launched the driver's license with a new design, which are equipped with the latest technology for document security and in harmony with the directives of the European Union. /REL/Telegraph/
