20 June 2012 – On the occasion of World Refugee Day, the Ombudsperson Mr. Sami Kurteshi visited the Asylum-seeking Centre of Kosovo, which functions within the Department for Nationality, Asylum and Migration of the Ministry of Interior. The Ombudsperson met with Head of this Center Mr. Fitim Zariqi, who informed the Ombudsperson on conditions and rules for staying of the asylum seekers in this Centre, which has been established in February 2010.

Mr. Zariqi informed the Ombudsperson that currently 11 asylum seekers are accommodated in this centre, but since the establishment of this Centre, 500 asylum seekers were accommodated who came from various States and continents and they receive shelter in accordance with the laws in force. The Ombudsperson also met the asylum seekers and wanted to know about their treatment in Kosovo. The asylum seekers declared to the Ombudsperson that they are satisfied and grateful to the Kosovo authorities regarding conditions provided to them.

The building providing shelter to the asylum seekers is in accordance with the European standards for providing necessary shelter for the asylum seekers during the time the Kosovo authorities handle their case.

The issue of asylum seeking in the Republic of Kosovo is regulated by the Law No. 03/L-066 on Asylum and by 2 Administrative Instructions, which are in harmony with the Convention from 1951 and its Protocol from 1967 regarding status of refugees.

According to the report of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva, during the year 2012 the number of displaced persons in the world exceeded the figures of 42 million persons.