Ukrainian Interior Minister Anatoliy Mohyliov has become the first minister in the world to receive an Interpol passport, which enables him to make working visits to the countries where this document is recognized.
Secretary General of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Ronald Noble presented the document to the Ukrainian minister at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.
"You are the first minister in the world to receive such a document," Noble said.
Mohyliov thanked the Interpol Secretary General and noted that this document will ease working visits, as no visas are required.
"The document is used only for working visits to the 11 countries that have recognized it. It is not used for private trips," the minister said, and added that this passport includes biometric data.
When asked how Interpol acquired the biometric data of the Ukrainian interior minister, Mohyliov said that during his visit to Qatar for a conference, the fingerprints and other biometric data were taken from all the heads of law enforcement structures.
Noble, in turn, said that the passport was as secure a document as possible.
The Interpol Secretary General also said that about 2,000 such documents are planned to be issued in the whole world.
"All of the biometric data will be in the database of Interpol," he said.
Noble also explained that such an Interpol passport is of great importance, as officials of the law enforcement agencies and member states of Interpol have to make working visits without any difficulties and delays, and without having to obtain a relevant visa.
The passport was designed in Ukraine by the EDAPS Company in cooperation with foreign colleagues, he noted.
The Interpol Secretary General said that at present this document has been recognized in 11 countries, and 20 to 30 countries are in the process of its introduction.
"The introduction of this document is of no risk to a country," he said.
The Interpol Secretary General also noted that the European Union and the United States will also approve this travel document, "as there are no reasons not to do so."
