UNMIK/PR/780
PRISTINA – SRSG Michael Steiner today handed over the first UNMIK driving licenses to six Kosovans at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Public Services. The UNMIK driving licenses replace the old FRY driving licenses, held by many people in Kosovo.
The Ministry of Public Services (MPS) in cooperation with the Central Processing Centre (CPC) has produced the driving licenses. The CPC has the database containing details of nearly 200,000 people holding the old FRY driving licenses.
SRSG Michael Steiner also announced that he was extending the validity of the Yugoslav driving licenses, still held by people, to 31 December 2002.
Congratulating the Minister for Public Services Jakup Krasniqi, SRSG Michael Steiner said the driving licenses were the most advanced in Europe and produced using the best technology by the same German company that had printed the euro. This company had earlier produced the UNMIK Travel Document. The production of the driving licenses would shift to Kosovo from November, SRSG Michael Steiner said.
SRSG Michael Steiner thanked the Swiss government for its contribution in making the production of the driving licenses possible. The Swiss government has donated half a million euros to the driving licenses project. Of this 300,000 euros was especially directed to the procurement of 200,000 driving licenses which will be personalized in Germany.
He said people had waited a long time for the driving licenses and he was happy to announce that from August, 20,000 driving licenses will be produced every month. He urged Kosovans to apply early. So far 150 driving licenses had been produced and sent to Kosovo.
SRSG Michael Steiner said the introduction of the UNMIK driving license was another step in conforming to European standards. “Since the license fulfills all European standards, people will be able to use it throughout Europe”, he stated.
Speaking on behalf of Mr. Krasniqi, who was taken ill and therefore could not attend the ceremony, an official of the ministry said that the process had started well. He said there are believed to be nearly 200,000 people holding the old FRY driving licenses, which will need to be replaced.
Application forms for these driving licenses have been distributed in all Pristina region municipalities except the Pristina municipality. The process in the latter will begin on 24 July.
