The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, yesterday issued two Decisions extending deadlines in both Entities for the enforcement of certificates issued by the Commission for Real Property Claims of Displaced Persons and Refugees (CRPC), which relate to socially owned property.
Under the Entity laws on the implementation of CRPC certificates, which came into force on 28 October 1999, there were two deadlines relating to the enforcement of CRPC certificates to socially owned property. With regard to CRPC certificates issued after the CRPC laws came into force, holders of those certificates had originally one year to request their enforcement from the date when the certificate was issued. With regard to CRPC certificates issued prior to the entry into force of the CRPC laws – before 28 October 1999 -, the deadline was one year from the entry into force of these laws, that is until 27 October 2000.
At the request of the CRPC, which has difficulties locating some of the claimants to whom they have issued certificates, the High Representative has extended both deadlines by another six months. That means that holders of CRPC certificates issued after 28 October 1999 now have 18 months to request their enforcement from the date when the certificate was issued. Holders of CRPC certificates issued before 28 October 1999 have until 27 April 2001 to request their enforcement.
The High Representative issued these Decisions so that all displaced persons and refugees holding CRPC certificates have an adequate opportunity to request their enforcement. Under Annex 7 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, CRPC certificates are final and binding, and the authorities are obliged to enforce them. Holders of CRPC certificate need to submit the request for enforcement of the certificate to the responsible administrative body in the municipality where their socially owned apartment is located.
The High Representative’s Decisions took effect yesterday and shall be published in the Official Gazettes of the Entities with no delay. The High Representative issued these Decisions exercising his powers under Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement and in reference to the Conclusions of the Conference of the Peace Implementation Council in Bonn in December 1997.