SARAJEVO, Nov 3 (Hina) - A special research team formed by the +Ombudsman for the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Office +of the High Representative (OHR) has made allegations that in the +past period a series of legal
irregularities and violations were +committed by the municipal authorities. + The team was formed to investigate the status of property and rights +to apartments as well as protection of private property in +Bugojno. + OHR spokeswoman Alexandra Stiglmayer stated in Sarajevo on Tuesday +that a report by the Ombudsman regarding the situation in Bugojno +indicated that the municipal authorities in Bugojno were +responsible for a series of illegal transactions.+ "The issue is of a series of concerning illegal transactions +including the illegal destruction of houses belonging to refugees +from the region", said Stiglmayer.+ Assistant to the High Representative Hanns
SARAJEVO, Nov 3 (Hina) - A special research team formed by the
Ombudsman for the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Office
of the High Representative (OHR) has made allegations that in the
past period a series of legal irregularities and violations were
committed by the municipal authorities.
The team was formed to investigate the status of property and rights
to apartments as well as protection of private property in
Bugojno.
OHR spokeswoman Alexandra Stiglmayer stated in Sarajevo on Tuesday
that a report by the Ombudsman regarding the situation in Bugojno
indicated that the municipal authorities in Bugojno were
responsible for a series of illegal transactions.
"The issue is of a series of concerning illegal transactions
including the illegal destruction of houses belonging to refugees
from the region", said Stiglmayer.
Assistant to the High Representative Hanns Schumacher presented
the results of the team's research to Bosnia's Federal Premier
Edhem Bicakcic and his deputy, Drago Bilandzija, requesting that
they immediately put a halt to these illegal activities.
Schumacher forwarded a similar request to the Bugojno mayor Dzevad
Mlaci.
"The situation in Bugojno is symptomatic of that in the whole
country", said Stiglmayer adding that Ambassador Shumacher had
requested that the Ombudsman expand investigations to other
municipalities in the Federation.
A detailed report by the Ombudsman's office cites a series of
illegal actions taken by the authorities in Bugojno which in most
cases were to the detriment of non-Muslims in Bosnia.
Particular problems were discovered in the return of rights to
apartments to occupants prior to the war. It has been established
that a large number of apartments are occupied by Muslims who have
their own houses or apartments in other areas of the Federation.
Of 1389 requests for the return of private property, the Bugojno
authorities have to date resolved 92 cases.
Occupants of apartments prior to the war have requested 643
apartments publicly owned of whom only 6 have realised their
rights.
(Hina) sp