OSCE Mission launches report on property rights claims resolution in post-conflict Kosovo
PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 16 June 2020 - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo released today the Property Rights Mass-Claim Mechanism: Kosovo experience report, an evaluation of two decades of the handling of property cases arising after 1999.
The report analyses the challenges the Housing and Property Directorate (HPD, 1999–2006), Kosovo Property Agency (KPA, 2006-2016), as well as the current Kosovo Property Comparison and Verification Agency (KPCVA, established in 2016) faced in their endeavours, the results they achieved and the remaining gaps.
In the last 20 years these three agencies resolved over 70,000 residential, commercial and agricultural claims. However, difficulties in notifications to the parties, in the administration of properties, administration of the rental scheme, the parallel review of cases by the courts, the demolition of illegal structures and compensation of cases were challenges to the adjudication of the post-conflict property claims.
“In post-conflict societies with developing judicial systems, regular courts face difficulties in reviewing the large number of post-conflict property claims. Therefore, the international community established quasi-judicial and administrative bodies to help facilitate a prompt resolution of these property claims,” said Jan Braathu, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.
“Addressing the issue of unresolved conflict-related property claims is a necessary prerequisite to achieve and maintain the stability of every post-conflict society. Providing remedies for these specific claims contributes not only to the protection and advancement of human rights of affected parties, but can also have a positive impact on the reconciliation process within society,” he added.
In line with its mandate, the Mission works for the promotion and protection of property rights of non-majority communities and displaced persons, ensuring that their property rights are restored. The Mission works closely with responsible institutions in Kosovo to develop policies and legislation, and their implementation, thus endeavoring to ensure the protection of individual property rights.
Full report is available here: https://www.osce.org/mission-in-kosovo/454179