The OHR would like to announce that the question of who is eligible to which category of vouchers (certificates, coupons, claims) in the privatization process in Bosnia and Herzegovina has finally been clarified, with which another major obstacle delaying the privatization process has been removed.
A document answering this question has been drawn up by OHR experts at the request of the privatization authorities and governments of both Entities as well as international organizations involved in the privatization process. It synthesizes demands and concepts brought forward in numerous meetings with the local authorities and international organizations held over the last few months.
The document called “Eligibility to Vouchers” takes into account the differences in the Entity privatization laws with regard to the allocation of vouchers, but ensures that the basic principles embodied in the State Framework Law on Privatization of Enterprises and Banks, which became effective on 22 July 1998, are not violated. In particular, it protects the rights of refugees and displaced people so they not be left out of the privatization process.
The OHR welcomes the spirit of cooperation and willingness to compromise shown by the privatization authorities and governments of the two Entities in order to reach a solution. It expects the authorities to abide by the rules set in the document, amend the Entity privatization laws where necessary, and establish an inter-Entity mechanism to ensure that vouchers are distributed in a non-discriminatory manner and the system not be abused.
The document “Eligibility to Vouchers” is attached.