Albania Begins Issuing Printed Civil Status Certificates

TIRANA, Aug 17 – The Albanian Interior Ministry, with the support from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, began issuing printed civil status certificates at the Civil Status Offices in Tirana, as well as in local government units in Kamez and Paskuqan.
The certificates were generated from the civil registration database, which was obtained by computerizing all Albanian civil status data as registered in the fundamental register books.
That was the first group of Civil Status Offices to begin issuing printed certificates from the Albanian civil registration database.
The printed certificates will replace hand-written certificates, help improve public services and provide better accuracy of data. The Government seeks to gradually enable all Civil Status Offices in the country to issue printed certificates.
“These are the first tangible results of the modernization of the civil registration system,” said Ambassador Robert Bosch, Head of the OSCE Presence. “In order to ensure sustainable results, it is important to provide a continuous commitment to the process at all levels. The Interior Ministry and the Civil Status Offices are aware of the major challenge in maintaining the quality and sustainability of the new system.”
The Acting Head of the European Commission Delegation, Hubert Petit, said that the issue of data protection becomes even more important now that Albania has begun to use a civil status database. “In line with the Personal Data Protection law, adopted earlier this year, the Government should appoint a Data Protection Commissioner and establish a Data Protection Authority without further delay,” he said.
“Albania should ensure that a reliable civil registry is in place well in time before the deadlines for voter list preparations and that identity documents in line with international standards are issued to all voters sufficiently in advance of the next parliamentary elections.”
The computerization of the Albanian civil status data and issuance of printed certificates was made possible through a 2.5 million EUR EU-funded project, “Technical Assistance to the Government of Albania on Modernization of Address and Civil Registration Systems”, with additional funding from the OSCE and the United States’ government.
Prime Minister Sali Berisha said it was not far from the day when citizens would print certificates from their homes, meaning a total digitalization of the register.
The civil register has been a main issue of contention among political parties in post-communist Albania as it serves as the basis for a voters’ list, which had been previously manipulated by party politics.
Representatives of international institutions also reminded the government that they should prepare, on time, the issuing of identity cards and biometric passports as pledged for next year, but well ahead of parliamentary elections expected in mid-2009.