Chahid El Hafed (refugee camps), Sept 8, 2012 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Frente Polisario, Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz, oversaw Saturday morning at the National Centre of Documents Production the launch of the first Saharawi biometric passport, plain and diplomatic, that contains biometric information required by International Civil Aviation Organization, in accordance with the Presidential Decree 11/2012.
The new biometric passport contains an electronic chip with information about the holder, including a digitized photograph, fingerprints and signature.
Providing explanation about the new passport, the Minister of Interior Mr. Hamada Salma said that new passport with the high digital technology “has two security codes; one contains information of the passport’s holder, whereas the second is a two-dimensional system. In addition to other security measures can only be read by ultraviolet.”
The Minister congratulated operators of the passport, Saharawi state and people as a whole for this new achievement that aims at protecting the national documents from forgery, adding “this step will include all national documents.”
President of the Republic was granted the first Saharawi diplomatic passport conform to international standards.
The passport is now available for diplomats, students and patients who need to be treated in a country that recognizes the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. Application for the passport should be signed by either Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Interior.
The Saharawi passport is accredited in all the countries that have been recognizing the Saharawi Republic since 1970s. (SPS)
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