Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti authorized the registration of 24 hectares of land near the Lumbardh River to the Deçan Monastery, a move prompted by a Constitutional Court ruling and international pressure for Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe. The government had anticipated resistance from the Deçan municipality, which had refused to implement the court's decision for eight years. To address this, a new cadastre law was passed in 2023, granting Kurti the authority to approve the land registration himself. This enabled the Kosovo Cadastral Agency to carry out the transfer despite the municipality's objections.
Kosovo Moves to Register Land for Deçani Monastery Under New Cadastral Law
In a significant development, Kosovo's government has taken steps to register 24 hectares of land near the Lumbardh river for the Deçani Monastery, following years of resistance from the local municipality. The move comes amidst pressure from the international community, particularly the Council of Europe, which has made the implementation of a Constitutional Court ruling on the land transfer a condition for Kosovo's membership.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who has long opposed the court ruling, justified his decision to enforce it on the grounds that it was crucial to Kosovo's application for Council of Europe membership. To facilitate the implementation, the government amended the Cadastral Law in late 2023, granting itself the authority to authorize land registration.
Previously, municipal cadastral offices held the sole authority for land registration. However, under the amended law, these offices now operate as part of the Kosovo Cadastral Agency (AKK), which is under the government's control. The AKK is authorized to grant registration, effectively giving the government the power to override municipal decisions.
The decision to transfer the land to the monastery has been met with resistance from the Deçani municipality, which has refused to do so for the past eight years. Deçani Mayor Bashkim Ramosaj has expressed dissatisfaction with Kurti's decision, claiming that it will harm the municipality's economic development.
The Constitutional Court ruling, which ordered the municipality to transfer the land, has been a contentious issue for years. It stems from a legal battle that lasted from 2000 to 2016. The court's decision was based on the discriminatory policies of Serbia during the 1990s, arguing that the land had been taken from social enterprises, a honey factory, and a hotel.
International pressure has mounted on Kosovo to implement the court ruling, with prominent figures, including the German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, warning that failure to do so could jeopardize Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe. The Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Council of Europe recently adopted a report recommending Kosovo's membership, but the final vote is scheduled for April 18 at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The government's move to amend the Cadastral Law and authorize the land registration for the Deçani Monastery is seen as a significant step towards addressing the international community's concerns. It remains to be seen how the municipality of Deçani will respond, but the government's determination to enforce the court ruling indicates a shift in its approach to the issue.
