Whether ethnic Albanian citizens of Macedonia need authorization from Macedonian authorities to leave the country; if so, the organization which is responsible for issuing that authoritization; whether it is the same organization which issues passports; if authorization for leaving Macedonia is required, the consequences for ethnic Albanian citizens of Macedonia, upon their return to their country, if they did not have such permission; the nature of restrictions on travel abroad for reasons of safety and security and the legislative provision(s) relevant to them; when and how those restrictions are applied in practice (1999-July 2000) [MCD35202.E]

No information on an authorization necessary for ethnic Albanian citizens of Macedonia to leave the country nor on restrictions on travels abroad for reasons of safety and security could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Sources Consulted


IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Refworld

Travel Information Manual (TIM) [Hoofddorp, The Netherlands]. December 1999. "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"

Unsuccessful attempts to contact three oral sources.

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International (AI)

The Balkan Human Rights Web Pages

British Helsinki Human Rights Group (BHHRG)

Le courrier des Balkans

Freedom in the World 1999-2000

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

International Crisis Group (ICG)

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF-HR)

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)

U.S. Department of State

World News Connection (WNC)