New Transliteration Rules for Greek IDs, Passports Urged

The Greek ombudsman has asked the public order ministry to re-examine current rules for transliterating Greek names into Latin script on IDs and passports issued in Greece, following numerous complaints from citizens. The independent authority noted that deviation from the approved transliteration model ELOT 743 has until now only been allowed if it was requested by the interested part and there was a previously existing public document using the alternative version, issued either in Greece or by a foreign authority.

The current rules, based on a past ruling of the Legal Council of State, forbid any deviation from the transliteration model that could be seen as a 'loose translation', with the additional of nonexistent letters or changes to the ending of the surname in the female and male forms or the omission of letters. Effectively, this means that the Greek Police, which is the body responsible for issue IDs and passports, has completely abolished the originally foreseen option of deviating from ELOT 743.

The ombudsman then sought and obtained a new ruling from the Legal Council of State on this issue in 2011, which allowed a double rendition of the document holder's name in Latin script, one in the 'approved' ELOT 743 version and the second in the previously established form.

The authority notes that this has 'cancelled out' the option to request an alternative rendition of one's name in the form already established in other documents and creates problems for the document holder, especially with transactions abroad.

The Greek Police, however, replied that the problem has been resolved by adopting the 2011 ruling prompting the ombudsman to demand that the ministry re-examine the issue. (AMNA)