Kosovo authorities started issuing new licence plates with the RKS (Republic of Kosovo) logo and new river's licences with built-in chips.All old licence plates with the KS logo will be replaced.

The new licence plates are blue and have the RKS logo, followed by a two-digit number, Kosovo emblem, a three-digit figure and two-letter region initials.

At the presentation of the new licence plates, Director of the Registrations and Civil Status with the Kosovo Interior Ministry Bljerim Camaj told reporters that all citizens whose vehicle registration is about to expire will get new plates and new driver's licences.

The first pair of new licence plates was delivered by Kosovo Interior Minister Bajram Redzepi, who announced that the Kosovo Interior Ministry will notify the countries in the region about the introduction of new licence plates.

Redzepi said that the Kosovo authorities have not yet adopted a decision on the vehicles with plates that bear initials of cities in Kosovo which were issued by the Serbian Interior Ministry.

The new government will adopt a decision on the date up to which the old licence plates can remain valid, Redzepi said. He expressed hope that Serbia will understand this move and added that the European Union will certainly exert pressure regarding this matter. The official noted that this issue could also be one of the subjects in the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations.

In case the Serbian authorities decide not to recognise the new Kosovo plates, Pristina institutions may also adopt a similar decision concerning the Serbian licence plates, Redzepi said.

Regardless of the deadline, vehicles driven in Kosovo will have to bear licence plates of the Republic of Kosovo. If Serbia does not recognise the Kosovo plates, the Kosovo authorities will try to find an alternative, Redzepi stated.

The new driver's licences will have a new design and production procedure, and will include much more information in keeping with the EU standards, the minister noted.