The family from Drenas demands the right to property that Serbia violently seized, municipal assembly meets tomorrow

The Drenas Municipal Assembly will meet on tomorrow, but it will not be limited to the situation created by the pandemic caused by Coronavirus.

Before the assemblyists will also be in order to form a commission on assessment of some properties in the city centre and then use that space for high construction.

That has been why the Elez family from Drenasi is addressed with a public letter to the mayor of the municipality, the mayor of the municipal assembly, and all assemblyers.

The Elez family letter says this point of the agenda concerns two Elez family parcels, of Elez Hamez Elez and Halit Ramadan Elez, who were taken by Serbia's violent power during 1960/1970, respectively. “The Elez family has never realized its right to this property until now. This issue is known to everyone in Drenas, because not only this area, but tens of other hectares have been robbed of our family without ever compensated for”, this letter says.

This family has also attached evidence of the plan from 1966 that proves that these two parcels were their grandparents' property.

This family has also demanded that the assemblyists postpone the formation of this commission until the situation is cleared up and a solution is found to meet the family's request.

This is Elez family's full public letter:

FAMILY PUBLIC LATER ELEZIA FROM DRENASS

Honored Mayor of the Darena Congregation, Mr. Ramiz Ladrovci,

Honored Head of the Comunal Assembly of Drenas, Mr. The Halilaj lab,

Dear Assemblyeers of the Comunal Assembly of the Drenas,

After we were informed about the call of the Drenas Municipal Assembly hearing on April 30, 2020, we were writing to the Elez family from Drenas.

The reason we're writing to you is exactly the third point of the agenda: “The decision to form the commission for the assessment of properties that can be exchanged and the giving of recommendations for properties that should be transplanted to the parcel 743/1 in the cadastre area in Drenas”.

We are informed that in this part is about two parcels of the Elez family, of Elez Hamez Elez and Halit, who were taken over by the violent power of Serbia during the 1960s/1970s, who did not ask for life and left off on property. The Elez family has never realized its right to this property until now. This issue is known for everyone in Drenas because not only this area but tens of acres of more have been robbed of our family without ever being compensated. For the parcel in question, as you can see in these photos are in their old appointment 737 and 738, as well as in the name of our grandparents.

Recently we have secured documentation to support our right. We've requested an appointment with Mr. Mayor. Ladrovci, to explain this matter with facts, but circumstances that were missed by the pandemic prevented us from meeting until now. Of course, even now we are able to meet, adapting to the circumstances of the care required.

In view of this concern of the Elez family, we urgently request that you as Councillors of the Drenas Municipal Assembly, postpone forming the Commission on Property Rating, until a solution is found that is in the best interests of our family.

In the 1960s/1970s, Serbia's violent power has taken these properties from our family, without our will. Then the municipal organs have done expropriation of our family in order to implement projects in public interest. This has not happened and can easily be proved because evidence or houses built exist. Public interest does not mean abolishing someone's property and this property is given to other people, as has happened in the case of our family. Public interest means expropriating property to carry out projects for general interest, such as building schools, ambulances, theatres, museums, cultural centres, and many more.

In the parcel in question, which we are writing to you, there has never been an investment in the interest of the public and general good. For what our grandparents' property has been exploited, the evidence is still there - some housing on the ground.

In today's process, the Elez family is still not being considered, since we were not invited into the compensation process, but only the families that benefited from then expropriation. This is contrary to the sacred right of property, since there has never been any damage to the expropriated owner - the Elez family. As a matter of fact, we're not against the invitation you made for these families, nor are we against the development of the city of Drenas, because we also contribute to this development through the taxes we pay every month.

Property delivery, according to the documentation presented for this meeting, is not linked to the purpose of realising public interest, but is planned to realise high construction.

In view of the concern of the Elez family, we ask that you postpone this decision until our request is met.

The Elez family requires local organs in our country to make the decision.

We hope that you chosen citizens of Drenas, so even as our representatives, to be at the high level of responsibility for the right to our family's property.

Property rights are sacred, and that right is never lost.

With respect,

The Elez family

Drenas, April 29, 2020