Escobar raised again the issue of expropriation in Leposavic and Zubin Potok

The event that preceded the tensions in the north of Kosovo last year was the issue of expropriation, specifically in the villages of Dren and Lesak in the municipalities of Leposavic and Zubin Potok, and it was precisely this issue that was brought up to date by the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, when, in addition to the Community of Serbian Municipalities and the return of property to the Visoki Decani monastery, stated as a condition for Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe, writes Nacionale.

In the text entitled "80 hectares in Dren and Lesak: What you need to know about expropriation in the north", the portal reminds that the Government of Kosovo started expropriation in the municipalities of Leposavic and Zubin Potok in January last year, when it declared part of the land in those municipalities " immovable property of special public interest, which is necessary for the realization of infrastructure projects of public interest".

Then in February of last year, the government adopted a decision authorizing the Ministry of the Environment to carry out preparatory work for "determining the potential suitability of one or more parcels of real estate for the realization of infrastructure projects of public interest".

It became the subject of conflict between the government and the international community.

In the meantime, the rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, warned of a "conflict with the Government on this topic", calling it "an absolutely unacceptable decision".

"Yes, we are aware of that decision. This is absolutely unacceptable. And that is the reason why, when I go to Kosovo, I will also go to the north of Kosovo. I will certainly talk to the citizens there and understand more about the issue, and then confront the Government in Pristina. That is one of the tasks and it is one of the biggest concerns at the moment. Because we see that stability, if we can call it stability in the north, is very fragile," Von Cramon said almost 10 months ago.

Reaction after reaction then followed, culminating in that of the European Union, which demanded that such processes be carried out with "prior notice and comprehensive information of property owners".

The expropriation in the villages of Dren and Lesak, where the construction of the border police station was planned, was called "sensitive" by the European Union, reminds Nacionale.

"The construction of four Kosovo Police bases on private and public land, in some cases before the start of expropriation proceedings, raises concerns about property rights in northern Kosovo and the authorities must adequately address the issue. The EU urges the Kosovo authorities to strictly comply legal procedures on the expropriation of immovable property, to do everything in their power to ensure that the prescribed process is followed and that the property rights of the affected owners are fully respected," the EU said at the time.

Dialogue mediator Miroslav Lajcak also spoke about "this concern" which he "conveyed to Prime Minister Kurti".

"Serbs should not be surprised, but informed," said Lajcak in response to the media, who asked him if he was aware "that the expropriations were announced without a public discussion."