RIGHT TO RESTITUTION OF FLATS IN B. FEDERATION EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 2

SARAJEVO, Aug 19 (Hina) - The Mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to Bosnia-Herzegovina and the commission for property requests of displaced persons and refugees (CRPC) called on all persons who applied for the restitution of their flats in the Bosnian Federation based on a decision reached before the war, but received no reply, to send a new application by September 2. All persons who asked to have their flats back by July 4 but have not received a satisfactory decision or have received no reply at all from local authorities, have the right to file a new request to the CRPC as a higher body, the statement released in Sarajevo on Thursday said. Pre-war flat owners will have the chance, by filing the request, to ensure the return of their flats which they abandoned during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Persons who have already applied to the CRPC do not have to repeat the process. The CRPC was established according to the Dayton Agreement and has the authority to confirm the right of pre-war property ownership. Its decisions are binding for local authorities in Bosnia- Herzegovina. (hina) lml