Electronic database financed by OSCE to serve property redisribution plans

TIRANA, Dec. 12- The OSCE Presence in Albania and the country’s Property Restitution and Compensation Agency (PRCA) signed an agreement to assist the creation of a database of requests for restitution and compensation of property since 1993. OSCE will provide technical and financial assistance to design the electronic database. The PRCA needs accurate and easily accessible information regarding the types and total amount of land claimed for restitution and compensation. Once the land value maps are completed, Albania will have a reliable estimate of the total cost of the restitution and compensation process. The database will be instrumental in providing reliable information. It will also serve as a case management and case-tracking tool allowing the Agency to more efficiently adjudicate claims. It will provide technical capacity to identify and resolve claims in chronological order according to geographic locations. Head of the OSCE Presence, Ambassador Pavel Vacek said that “The database will improve the Agency’s capacity to manage the restitution and compensation process and as a result, the Government will be better able to co-ordinate the legalization process.”
Director of the PRCA, Justina Bori詠explained that “the gathered information will also assist us to co-operate with other public institutions administering public properties.”
The 40.000 Euro financing for the initiative was pledged by the government of the Czech Republic. The OSCE Presence has supported the property restitution and compensation process since 2004 when the relevant law entered into force. It has assisted in commenting on legislation and drafting sub-legal acts, supported the preparation of property value maps for the Tirana area, donated office equipment and has provided training for property commissioners. The Presence will continue supporting the property reforms in the country, in line with its mandate.