Belgrade Allows Kosovo’s RKS License Plates on Its Territory as of Jan. 1

Kosovo police start handing out warnings over license plates, Jarinje, Nov.1 2022 (BETAPHOTO/SASA DJORDJEVIC)

The Serbian Government decided on Dec. 25, 2023 to allow free movement for drivers with Kosovo’s RKS license plates on its territory, starting Jan. 1, 2024.

The chief of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, earlier said that such Government decision aimed to “help the Kosovo Serbs.” Speaking to reporters, Petkovic said that it was another impetus to the Open Balkan initiative, which would make life easier to the Serbs living in Kosovo and Metohija as they were those predominantly using administrative checkpoints.

Petkovic also said it was no secret that 99 percent of Serbs living in Kosovo and Metohija had letters RKS (Republic of Kosovo) on their vehicle plates as it was the only way to drive around Kosovo. “Such vehicle plates are also used by priests of the Eparchy of Raska and Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church so they could travel to Serbian monasteries and churches and visit the Orthodox believers.” Petkovic said. He stressed that this decision did not imply that Belgrade had abandoned its firm stand on non-recognition of Kosovo’s independence.