The Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and acting President of the Republic of Serbia, Predrag Markovic, met representatives of the League for the Protection of Private Property.

Dr Slavenko Gregurevic, Chairman of the League, which represents 300,000 property owners, together with representatives of the League’s territorial committees, acquainted Mr Markovic with their approach to solving the issue of unjustly confiscated property and compensation for its owners, and expressed dissatisfaction with co-operation with authorities thus far.

Members of the League appealed for the urgent drafting and passage of a new Constitution which would enshrine the protection of private property, a precondition for solving the issue of de-nationalisation by September.

Mr Markovic explained the plan of activities of the Constitutional Issues Committee, which he chairs, and stressed that work on the constitution was a matter of the utmost national importance and should not be used irresponsibly for party political advertising.

Mr Markovic promised to lend his support in efforts to persuade local authorities to return property in cases where there are no legal constraints for its turning over to former owners.

Members of the League underlined the importance of passing legislation aimed at stopping the trading of nationalised real estate, expressing the desire for their representatives to attend sessions of the relevant Assembly Committees, as well as those of the Assembly itself.