Gracanica: Shameful decision of the Government of Kosovo on confiscation of land for the project of the "Balkan Orphans" Association

The municipality of Gracanica expressed its satisfaction with the decision of the Government of Kosovo to appropriate 13 hectares and 33 ares of municipal property in the settlement of Padaliste, in order to realize the construction project of the "Kosovo Residential Center for Autism, Down’s Syndrome and Disability for Children and the Elderly".

In the decision of the Government of Kosovo, which, as stated in the announcement, was forwarded to the municipality of Gracanica without prior consultation and municipal consent, it is pointed out that after the transfer of property rights to the Government of Kosovo, the areas of cadastral plots will be handed over for use for a period of 99 years to the Charitable Association "Balkan orphans", which will implement the project.

"Without going into the essence or purpose of the center as well as its functioning in the future, we consider that the decision of the Government of Kosovo to confiscate municipal property is a shameful and undemocratic option that aims to destabilize and endanger the public interest of the local population. We would like to inform the public that the Municipality of Gracanica, except for the name of the project, had no insight into it, and that it found out about the confiscation of the land from the decision that was forwarded to us from the Government of Kosovo," announced the Municipality of Gracanica.

The municipality of Gracanica demands from the Government of Kosovo to review and then withdraw the decision on confiscation of land and to respect the rights of local residents and their voice in this procedure.

"We are asking the Government of Kosovo to organize public discussions about the project and its impact on the community with the population of our municipality and the competent municipal authorities," said the Municipality.

By looking at the cadastral plot numbers listed in the Decision of the Government of Kosovo, the "Kosovo Residential Center for Autism, Down's Syndrome and Disability for Children and the Elderly" will be built in Gracanica on the stretch between the Court and the New Gracanica Cemetery.

"In addition to the statements in the media by the minister in charge that a safe and secure environment is necessary for the realization of this project, we are asking the Government of Kosovo for an answer to the question 'on the basis of which analysis and statistics chose Gracanica as the place where such a Center will be built,'" the announcement reads.