VIOLATIONS OF OWNERSHIP RIGHTS RIFE THROUGHOUT BOSNIA - OSCE

SARAJEVO, Aug 3 (Hina) - The violation of ownership rights was one of the most serious human rights violations currently practiced in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the deputy chief of the OSCR mission in Bosnia, Craig Jennes, said on Saturday. Violations of ownership rights accounted for 60 to 70 percent of all complaints to ombudsmen in both entities, Jennes said. "By violating ownership rights, the authorities in both entities are directly impeding the return of refugees," he said. A comprehensive analysis of the ownership rights situation compiled by the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, warns that the return of refugees has been delayed and practically made imposible by the existing legislations in both entities. The laws in force in the Serb entity efficiently prevents the return of refugees by imposing the principle of reciprocity, according to Jennes. On the other hand, under the laws in effect in the area controlled by the Sarajevo government, all refugees who have not returned or submitted a request to return by January 6, will lose their tenancy rights. "Such laws are in contravention to the provisions of the Dayton Agreement which guarantee refugees the right to return to their homes," Jennes said. Officials with the office of the international peace coordinator Carl Bildt have repeatedly called on the governments of both entities to amend these laws, to no avail. "The main reason for such an attitude is a lack of political will to allow the return of refugees," Jennes concluded. International organisations have also compiled a vast body of data on evictions. Most often, victims of evictions are members of ethnic minorities and the responsibility for such acts lies entirely with local authorities, reports said. Representatives of Bildt's office and OSCE officials on Friday prevented the eviction of a 75-year-old Serb man in Sarajevo. The eviction was attempted by the Bosnian army military police, under the pretext that the flat he lived in had been the property of the Yugoslav army which in due course reverted to the Bosnian army. The eviction was prevented at the initiative of the ombudsman, who is to yet to make a final decision in this case. (hina) as 031741 MET aug 96