Switzerland supports the restoration of housing and property rights in Kosovo

Pristina – Head of Swiss Office in Pristina, Mr. Hans-Peter Fischer, and DSRSG for Civil Administration, Mr. Francesco Bastagli, signed today a funding agreement with the Swiss Government, granting 550,000 Swiss Francs (376,000 euros) for the work of the Housing and Property Directorate (HPD).

“On behalf of UNMIK, I would like to thank the Swiss Government for their continued support of HPD. This and other recent contributions are reinforcing the organisation and allowing it to implement its mandate”, Mr. Bastagli said.

HPD is mandated to resolve residential property disputes in Kosovo. Some 23,000 claims have already been filed and it is expected that all will be resolved by the end of 2003. The restoration of property rights is a prerequisite for progress in returns as well as the development of the private sector in Kosovo.