Newsroom
OSCE Mission introduces strategy to reduce judicial property backlogs in Kosovo
PRISTINA 12 April 2007
PRISTINA, 12 April 2007 - A growing number of property related cases pending in courts and violent incidents occurring as result of property disputes has led the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and local and international stakeholders to propose a strategy in order to improve this situation.
The strategy identifies existing property backlogs, possible ways to reduce them, and actions to prevent occurrence of these cases in the future. It also suggests legislative and case management reforms that will improve processing by courts, and the efficiency of regular courts when dealing with property matters.
Bringing the example of a property case in Prishtine/Pristina on 9 April which left three people injured, Jens Modvig, acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, said: "Solving property disputes with guns is unacceptable and Kosovo institutions should work to ensure that these incidents do not become a routine."
The strategy will serve as a guideline for Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) and the international community in future implementation of relevant standards and European Partnership Action Plan (EPAP) requirements for the judicial system. Currently there are over 10,000 unresolved cases in Kosovo courts.
"The protection of property rights needs to be strengthened to ensure that the judicial system issues decisions on property related cases in a timely manner, protecting individual rights and hopefully leading to peaceful resolution of disputes," added Modvig.
The OSCE Mission's partners in developing the strategy are: the PISG Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and the Ministry of Justice, the European Union Planning Team, the Kosovo Property Agency, UNMIK Department of Justice, the Kosovo Judicial Council and the USAID-funded National Centre for State Courts.
The strategy identifies existing property backlogs, possible ways to reduce them, and actions to prevent occurrence of these cases in the future. It also suggests legislative and case management reforms that will improve processing by courts, and the efficiency of regular courts when dealing with property matters.
Bringing the example of a property case in Prishtine/Pristina on 9 April which left three people injured, Jens Modvig, acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, said: "Solving property disputes with guns is unacceptable and Kosovo institutions should work to ensure that these incidents do not become a routine."
The strategy will serve as a guideline for Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) and the international community in future implementation of relevant standards and European Partnership Action Plan (EPAP) requirements for the judicial system. Currently there are over 10,000 unresolved cases in Kosovo courts.
"The protection of property rights needs to be strengthened to ensure that the judicial system issues decisions on property related cases in a timely manner, protecting individual rights and hopefully leading to peaceful resolution of disputes," added Modvig.
The OSCE Mission's partners in developing the strategy are: the PISG Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and the Ministry of Justice, the European Union Planning Team, the Kosovo Property Agency, UNMIK Department of Justice, the Kosovo Judicial Council and the USAID-funded National Centre for State Courts.