In April 2012 the World Bank published an Issue Brief “Governance in the Protection of Immovable Property Rights in Albania: A Continuing Challenge“. Bregdeti Association points out that the World Bank’s recommendations violate Articles 181 and 41 of the Albanian Constitution of 1998. In an effort to attract the attention of the higher World Bank authorities with respect to the errors and contradictions of the report, Bregdeti wrote on September 28 to the World Bank Director, Dr. Jim Yong Kim.

According to article 181 of the Albanian Constitutions the restitution of property had to be resolved within three years from its entry into force – that means already in 2001! Today, 11 years later the  Albanian Governments’ Strategy Reform in the field of Property Rights 2012-2020, inspired by the World Bank’s Recommendations, announces new delays and restrictions to the overdue restitution of properties to the rightful owners.

Bregdeti demands the World Bank to accept and make five substantial modifications in the Issue Brief and in its strategy, namely:

1. physical restitution has priority over other compensations;
2. restitution has priority over legalizations;
3. in case of restitution impossibility, financial compensation at market value;
4. increased institutional capacities necessary to resolve the restitution issue and
5. Wold Bank’s recommendations and strategy should be in line with the requirements of the European Court of Human Rights, namely its pilot judgment of July 2012

To learn more about Bregdeti claims and the urgent changes in World Bank strategy needed, read our letter of September 28, 2012 to the World Bank Director 20120928_EN.