Intl. bodies called on to protect property in Kosovo

Oliver Ivanovic welcomed on Monday the initiative of Serbia's foreign minister to block EUR 400mn from the sale of Serbian property in the province. The funds have been deposited into the account of the Kosovo Privatization Agency. Intl. bodies called on to protect property in Kosovo Ivanovic., who is state secretary with the Ministry for Kosovo, told Tanjug that due to the difficult economic situation, the authorities in Pristina were trying to sell off everything they can - "and later when the question arises of who the property belonged to, it will already be sold and damages will have to be sought through lawsuits". FM Vuk Jeremic opened the issue of privatization in Kosovo during a recent meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and asked that the money obtained from the sale of public property in Kosovo be blocked. Ivanovic said that "we do not consider Kosovo independent, and neither do international institutions such as the United Nations." "Pristina must act in line with the laws which apply in such situations," Ivanovic said. He said Pristina next plans to sell the property of Telekom Srbija and the Brezovica ski-center. Ivanovic noted this was not the first time they have attempted to sell the property of these companies and that there was an attempt to sell Telekom's property several years ago. At the time, Telekom published an ad in the Financial Times, warning potential buyers they would face lawsuits if they purchased the property, so the sale was unsuccessful, he said. Ivanovic said it is a problem that any lawsuit Serbia might file for damages due to illegal sale of property would be politicized. The state secretary said the problem requires a systematic approach. "I do not know exactly what the value of the property is. I think we need to systematize everything and set down some rules we would use to calculate Serbia's investments in Kosovo," Ivanovic stated. This official is convinced this issue "should also be solved by way of a political agreement". Oliver Ivanovic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Intl. bodies called on to protect property in Kosovo

Ivanović., who is state secretary with the Ministry for Kosovo, told Tanjug that due to the difficult economic situation, the authorities in Priština were trying to sell off everything they can - "and later when the question arises of who the property belonged to, it will already be sold and damages will have to be sought through lawsuits".

FM Vuk Jeremić opened the issue of privatization in Kosovo during a recent meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and asked that the money obtained from the sale of public property in Kosovo be blocked.

Ivanović said that "we do not consider Kosovo independent, and neither do international institutions such as the United Nations."

"Priština must act in line with the laws which apply in such situations," Ivanović said.

He said Priština next plans to sell the property of Telekom Srbija and the Brezovica ski-center.

Ivanović noted this was not the first time they have attempted to sell the property of these companies and that there was an attempt to sell Telekom's property several years ago.

At the time, Telekom published an ad in the Financial Times, warning potential buyers they would face lawsuits if they purchased the property, so the sale was unsuccessful, he said.

Ivanović said it is a problem that any lawsuit Serbia might file for damages due to illegal sale of property would be politicized.

The state secretary said the problem requires a systematic approach.

"I do not know exactly what the value of the property is. I think we need to systematize everything and set down some rules we would use to calculate Serbia's investments in Kosovo," Ivanović stated.

This official is convinced this issue "should also be solved by way of a political agreement".