Public enterprise Trepça has continued its campaign to reclaim and bring properties in northern Kosovo back under its management, taking control on Friday of two premises that had been used by the Pensioners’ Association in North Mitrovica.
According to Trepça, the two premises, located on Koloshini Street in the main square of North Mitrovica, had remained outside the company’s management for 27 years.
“Trepça JSC has returned two premises in the square of North Mitrovica, on Koloshini Street, to its management after 27 years outside the company’s administration,” the enterprise said in a statement.
Trepça management said the latest action follows the recovery of five other properties in the recent period, including another property in North Mitrovica that had been used by a café.
Last week, the company also reclaimed a property in Zveçan that had reportedly been used by the former Commercial Bank for 27 years.
As part of the process, Trepça places a notice at the entrance of each property, giving users a deadline to provide documentation proving their legal right to use or occupy the premises.
Trepça Chief Executive Faton Ahmeti told KALLXO.com that when occupants fail to provide documentation establishing their rights to the property, the company takes measures to have the premises vacated.
Dispute over property ownership
Trepça’s actions have previously sparked disagreement with local authorities in northern Kosovo.
On April 22, the company demolished more than 20 garages and other structures near the North Mitrovica Detention Center, saying they had been illegally built on Trepça-owned property.
The company said the action followed a period of more than two months during which occupants had been given an opportunity to submit evidence or seek to regulate their status through contracts. According to Trepça, no concrete requests were received during that period.
However, Milan Radojević, the mayor of North Mitrovica, disputed Trepça’s account, saying the municipality had neither been informed nor consulted about the demolition and had not received any official communication from the enterprise.
Radojević also argued that Trepça did not have ownership status over the property but was merely its user. He criticized the Kosovo Police for assisting Trepça during the operation.
Trepça, meanwhile, said the demolition had been carried out at the request of the regional detention facility and in accordance with applicable legislation, with the aim of restoring lawful management of the property and improving security in the area.
Trepça says 91 parcels reclaimed in North Mitrovica
Trepça’s property-management officials say the company has significantly expanded efforts to recover its assets in northern municipalities.
Burim Hajdini, an official responsible for property and asset management, told KALLXO.com that 91 parcels have so far been reclaimed in North Mitrovica alone.
According to Hajdini, the properties cover approximately 13 hectares and have an estimated financial value of around €24 million.
The recovery of the properties is part of Trepça’s broader effort to administer and protect its assets in the northern municipalities of Kosovo.
