Trepça contests construction of amphitheater in North Mitrovica in court

The company Trepça JSC has made it clear that it has not granted any approval or permit for the construction of the amphitheater in the square of North Mitrovica, and for this reason it has turned to the justice authorities to protect its property rights.

According to an official statement sent to KosovaPress, the company emphasizes that it has never received any formal request that would allow work to begin in that area.

“Because of this situation, Trepça JSC has initiated a judicial procedure aimed at protecting its property and halting the works being carried out without the company’s authorization,” the company’s announcement reads.

The amphitheater project had begun implementation on September14, while its cost amounts to50,475 euros.

On September23, the Basic Court in Mitrovica approved an interim measure against the Municipality of North Mitrovica, suspending any further work at this location.

In its reasoning, the court emphasized that the plots in question are officially registered as property of Trepça, while photographic evidence shows that the interventions have already begun. According to the court’s assessment, the company has convincingly proven the existence of its right over these lands and that the request for the imposition of the measure is fully justified.

The interim decision prohibits the Municipality from any kind of construction, intervention, use or other activity on the plots in question, until a new order from the court.

Meanwhile, Adriana Hoxhiq, deputy mayor of the Municipality of North Mitrovica, had described the situation as a misunderstanding between the municipal institution and Trepça.

Return of Trepça’s properties in the north

In recent months, the public enterprise Trepça has intensified its actions to regain control of its properties in the northern part of Kosovo.

In North Mitrovica, the company has returned to its administration several properties that, according to it, had remained outside its management for a long period. Among them are two premises in the city square, on “Koloshini” street, which Trepça claims were not under its administration for27 years.

Likewise, the enterprise has again taken possession of other properties that were used by business entities, as well as a building in Zveçan that was previously used by the former Komercijalna Banka.

As part of this process, Trepça had placed notices at the entrances of the properties, asking current users to submit the necessary documentation. Faton Ahmeti, the company’s chief executive, had declared that in cases where no proof of the right over the property was submitted, the company took steps to vacate the spaces.

On April22, Trepça demolished more than20 garages and other structures near the Detention Center in North Mitrovica. According to the company, these facilities were built on its property and the spaces had been occupied illegally.

It was clarified from Trepça that the action was undertaken after a period of more than two months, during which the parties had the opportunity to submit evidence or express interest in regularizing their status through a contract.

This action had provoked a reaction from Milan Radojević, then mayor of the Municipality of North Mitrovica, who stated that the municipal institution had not been notified or consulted in advance about the demolition and had not received any official document from Trepça regarding this matter.

The issue of Trepça’s properties also became a topic of discussion at the meeting of the Municipal Assembly of North Mitrovica on September30. Councilor Marko Jakšić requested that a debate on the properties that the enterprise claims to own be included in the agenda.

Aida Ferati-Doli, deputy chairwoman of the Assembly, emphasized that this issue should not be politicized or linked to ethnic affiliation. She added that Trepça owns properties in other municipalities of the country as well and that, according to her, the company has proven the ownership of these properties even before the courts.

During the session there were tensions between Ferati-Doli and the Assembly’s chairman, Ivan Zaporožac, after the latter interrupted her speech. Councilor Emir Azemi also criticized the way the meeting was being chaired, noting that the chairman should give councilors space for discussion.