The Agencies involved in the Property Law Implementation Plan (OHR, OSCE, UNHCR, UNMIBH and CRPC) announce today that, as of the end of September, the overall implementation rate of the property laws rose to 34% in BiH. 43% of cases have been solved in the Federation, while that number stands at 24% in the Republika Srpska, and 30% in Brcko.

It remains of great concern that in Foca, Sokolac and Srebrenica not even 10% of all the claims have been solved. These municipalities and the Ministry of Refugees and Displaced Persons in Banja Luka must make a real effort now to show that the rule of law is being applied throughout the Republika Srpska.

The International Community and the relevant State and Entity ministries are currently discussing a number of amendments to the property legislation in both entities. At the conference on property laws held in Teslic on October 23^rd, the relevant RS and Federation Ministries set November 15^th, 2001 as the final date for agreement on the necessary amendments and the harmonisation of the Entity laws.

Between January and the end of September of this year, the overall implementation rate rose only from 21% to 34% in BiH (29% to 43% in the Federation, 13% to 24% in the RS, and 14% to 30% in Brcko). The amendments, in addition to concerted efforts by local authorities to implement them, will help boost the rates of implementation to more acceptable levels.