DAVIDOVIĆ: HARMONIZATION MUST NOT BE EXCUSE FOR PERMANENT ERASURE OF OWNERSHIP RIGHTS

BOSANSKI PETROVAC, JANUARY 29 /SRNA/ – The harmonization process in the Federation of BiH must not be used as an excuse for the administrative re-registration of property, nor as a means for the permanent erasure of ownership rights of those who were forced to leave their homes, Nemanja Davidović, the chair of the Bosanski Petrovac SNSD Municipal Committee, told SRNA.

Davidović said that recent cases of registering Serbian Orthodox churches, cemeteries, and accompanying facilities in Zenica and Mostar as “state” property, within the framework of harmonizing land registries and cadastre records, have caused deep concern and raised numerous extremely serious questions. "If this practice is not reviewed, the property rights of many returnees in the Federation of BiH could be called into question, both with regard to church property and private property," Davidović emphasized. He has noted that in the cases so far, the property in question has not only religious and historical significance, but also represents part of the identity and evidence of the centuries-long presence of the Serb people in those areas. "If it is possible to register such facilities as state property without a clear legal basis and without the participation of the actual rights holders, then the legitimate question arises as to what is happening with the property of ordinary people, their houses, land, and estates, especially when it comes to displaced people and refugees," Davidović said. He stressed that such practice seriously undermines the principle of legal certainty and creates a dangerous precedent with far-reaching consequences for the property rights of a large number of returnees. Davidović pointed out that the lack of full transparency and genuine participation of rights holders in these procedures is particularly concerning, as it opens the door to selective application of regulations and abuse. He emphasized that displaced persons and refugees must be aware of the importance of maintaining an active legal and administrative status. "The issuance of IDs in municipalities and places of origin, as well as regular checks of entries in land registries and cadastre records, are a basic prerequisite for the protection of property rights and the prevention of unauthorized registrations without the knowledge of the actual owners," Davidović advised. Republika Srpska, he noted, provides institutional and legal support through a network of legal aid offices and mechanisms available to citizens in these procedures. "Property protection is not a political issue, but an essential matter of fundamental human rights and survival," Davidović concluded.