26.05.1999

Decision suspending the power of local authorities in the Federation and the RS to re-allocate socially-owned land in cases where the land was used on 6 April 1992 for residential, religious, cultural, private agricultural or private business activities

In accordance with my authority under Annex 10 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Article XI of the Conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference held in Bonn on 10 December 1997, I hereby

DECIDE

Notwithstanding the provision of any other law, state property (including former socially-owned property, but excluding socially owned apartments) may not be disposed of (including allotment, transfer, sale, giving for use or rent) by the authorities of the Entities or Bosnia and Herzegovina if it was used on April 6, 1992 for cultural or religious services, or if it was used by natural persons for residential purposes, business activities, or agriculture.

Any decision referred to in the previous paragraph made by the authorities of the Entities after April 6, 1992 which affects the rights of refugees and displaced persons shall be null and void, unless a third party has undertaken lawful construction work.

This Decision does not apply to transactions for the purposes of restitution to pre-nationalisation owners, or for the purposes of privatisation, in accordance with Entity laws specifically regulating these subjects.

This Decision does not apply to the territory of the District of Brcko.

Any decision, agreement or transaction concluded in violation of this Decision shall be null and void.

This Decision shall enter into force on May 26,1999, and shall remain in force until 31 December 1999. It may be extended by my further Decision.

Sarajevo, May 26, 1999

Carlos Westendorp
High Representative

Office of the High Representative