SELAK: MORE THAN 1,300 PROPERTY OWNERS REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN FEDERATION DISPUTE

BANJA LUKA, FEBRUARY 12 /SRNA/ – The Minister of Justice of Republika Srpska Goran Selak said that more than 1,300 citizens who own property in the Federation of BiH /FBiH/ have sought assistance from the Republika Srpska Administration for Geodetic and Property-Legal Affairs after their property was registered in the name of the "state", as was the case with the Serbian Orthodox Church /SOC/ in Mostar.

Selak told reporters in Banja Luka that, in line with requests from the Interdepartmental Working Group established to protect the property of Serbs and the SOC in FBiH, the Geodetic Administration has begun forming its own teams at 64 locations to address this issue. He reminded that the Interdepartmental Working Group includes representatives of the Republika Srpska Attorney's Office, the Bar Association, the Geodetic Administration, the Government Secretariat, and the Ministry of Justice, and that it remains in permanent session. "We are in communication with our people. Yesterday I spoke with clergy in Mostar, and I will visit all dioceses to speak with bishops, clergy, and legal teams engaged by the dioceses," Selak noted. He also reminded that representatives of the Ministry are also discussing the issue with justice ministers at the Council of Ministers level, in FBiH, and in the cantons, adding that he is expected to meet tomorrow in Banja Luka with the justice minister of Livno Canton. Selak said that Republika Srpska takes care of its people and called on citizens in both Republika Srpska and FBiH to carefully check official records to determine under whose name their property is registered.