Laktaši hosted a conference to present the work of the Imovina ima pamćenje (property has memory) project to date and the results of a survey conducted within this project. The project is being implemented by the Citizens’ Association DOM Veliko Blaško in cooperation with the Free Legal Aid Offices and the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, with the aim of protecting and promoting the property rights of Serbs in the Federation of BiH.

The Imovina ima pamćenje project was launched to draw attention to the numerous problems faced by Serbs in the Federation of BiH when exercising their property rights. This is evidenced by the number of requests for property return, which tripled in 2025 compared to previous years. – Given that our people in the Federation have been facing seizure by the Federation of BiH of property lands and real estate of Serbs originating from the Federation of BiH for years, we wanted to inform all our fellow citizens about the developments in the Federation – said Dragan Jošić, representative of the DOM CA Veliko Blaško. The project also included a survey, which showed that a large number of citizens are not sufficiently informed about either their rights or the institutions they can turn to for help.

– These very organizations are saying to raise public awareness and reach every citizen in need of help, and that we as an institution will provide institutional support in terms of advice on legal regulations and generally regarding property law, we will provide the best possible advice on how they can access that property – said Dragan Stanković, Director of the Republic Administration for Geodetic and Property Affairs.

Special emphasis was placed on Serbs living outside of BiH, who lose touch with their property frequently due to distance and lack of information. – This Imovina ima pamćenje project is a joint act, an exercise in showing unity in the sense of community of Srpska and Serbian people in the region, but also wider abroad, in the diaspora, because we need the help of literally every person anywhere in the world to spread this story, that is, to make it known that there is a free aid that people can contact – said Nikolina Mijatović Popović, representative of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region.

Kokanović stated that the idea was to provide the people originally from the Federation of BiH with free legal aid so that they can see all the facts related to this issue. – Anyone who owned a piece of property in the Federation of BiH is now fully entitled to be registered in the cadaster. This is where our role lies, to give authority and to help all people troubled by this issue and to point out all possible legal problems – added Kokanović. He said that the Administration would do its best to organize forums together with the legal team from the Republic of Srpska wherever possible, to gather people actually entitled to register their property in the cadaster and to send a unique message that property has memory.

Source and photo: RTRS