Joint OHR, OSCE and UNHCR Press Release 19% of the property claims resolved throughout BiH Sarajevo, 21 December 2000

Sarajevo (21 December 2000) –According to the October statistics on the property law implementation, released today by OHR, OSCE and UNHCR, 19% (46,209) out of the total number of 249,618 claims to residential properties have been resolved, while 102,591 decisions have been issued. Municipalities with the highest efficiency ratios, calculated as the number of repossessions divided by the number of claims, include: In the Federation of BiH: Zepce (78.05% out of 1,303 claims resolved), Fojnica (77.03% out of 679 claims resolved), Kiseljiak (75.38% out of 1,893 resolved), Vitez (61.12% out of 1,407 claims), Travnik (60.06% out of 2,396 claims resolved), Bugojno (52.77% out of 3,263 claims resolved). In the Republika Srpska: Lopare (29.09% out of 739 claims resolved), Gradiska (20.88% out of 4,263 claims resolved), Nevesinje (19.62% out of 627 claims resolved), Samac (17.90% out of 2,329 claims resolved), Kozarska Dubica (15.64% out of 1,643 claims resolved), Novi Grad (13.90% out of 3,338 claims resolved). Some of the efficiency ratios decreased from last month. This was due to the exclusion of data on destroyed properties. OHR, OSCE and UNHCR support the housing officials who are performing their duties in accordance with the law, despite the acts of intimidation and violence against them. These acts should be immediately investigated and severely sanctioned. Joint OHR, OSCE and UNHCR Press Release, Sarajevo, 21 December 2000