On 14 July, the consortium Syri i Vizionit, EduTask and NGO AKTIV, with the support of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), organized a roundtable entitled “Dialogue on Property Issues in the Gazivoda Lake Area: Challenges, Institutional Responsibilities and Next Steps” at the Assembly Hall of the Municipality of Zubin Potok.
The event brought together representatives of local institutions, the public company Ibar-Lepenac, legal experts, representatives of the international community, media representatives, and citizens whose property rights have been directly affected by recent developments in the Gazivoda Lake area.
The aim of the roundtable was to facilitate an open dialogue between institutions and citizens, clarify the responsibilities of different stakeholders, and contribute to a better understanding of the ongoing procedures. In the opening remarks, it was emphasized that recent developments have exposed serious shortcomings in communication between institutions, public enterprises and citizens, further undermining public trust and causing concern among the local population.
The Mayor of Zubin Potok, Miloš Perović, stated that the Municipality had neither given consent for the demolition of houses and holiday homes in the Gazivoda Lake area nor adopted any decisions that would enable such activities. He stressed that all outstanding issues should be resolved strictly in accordance with the law, through dialogue and with full respect for citizens’ rights, while expressing the Municipality’s readiness to participate in finding compromise solutions acceptable both to institutions and property owners.
The Director of the public company Ibar-Lepenac, Faruk Mujka, presented the company’s position, stating that its legal obligation is to protect the property under its management and the public interest. He emphasized that Ibar-Lepenac does not make decisions on the removal of structures nor carry out demolitions, but reports identified irregularities to the competent authorities, which then act within their respective legal mandates. He also highlighted the strategic importance of Gazivoda Lake as a key resource for water supply, energy production and other public needs.
During the discussion, citizens and their legal representatives raised questions regarding the legal basis for the ongoing procedures, institutional competencies, access to legal remedies and the implementation of certain decisions. Particular emphasis was placed on the need for greater transparency, timely communication with citizens and consistent adherence to legal procedures.
Participants agreed that addressing such complex issues requires improved coordination between central and local institutions, public enterprises and citizens, as well as continuous communication that can help reduce tensions and strengthen public trust in institutions.
Representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, who had been invited to present the Ministry’s responsibilities in this process, did not attend the event and did not provide the organizers with any explanation for their absence.
The roundtable concluded that property issues in the Gazivoda Lake area require a transparent and inclusive institutional approach, consistent implementation of the law and continuous dialogue among all relevant stakeholders. Participants emphasized that open communication, legal certainty and inter-institutional cooperation are essential prerequisites for finding sustainable solutions and strengthening citizens’ trust in institutional processes.
