Interest shown by citizens in purchasing courtyard lots at the price of EUR 1 per square meter is great. So far, before expiry of the deadline 27th January, citizens submitted 55,000 applications, and it is also expected for them to show huge interest in the coming days, when it is envisaged for around ten or so thousand new applications to be submitted. In order to meet the citizens on this issue so as to be able to submit applications for purchase of courtyard lots, Property and Legal Affairs Office will extend its working hours by 9 p.m.
 
This was announced Sunday by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Zoran Stavreski, who visited Gazi Baba municipal office of the Property and Legal Affairs Office.
 
– Just being two-three days away from the expiry of the deadline for the citizens to purchase courtyard lots at the price of EUR 1 per square meter and by visiting regional offices of the Property and Legal Affairs Office, I am assured of the great interest shown, Minister Stavreski said, adding that in order to meet the citizens on this issue so as to be able to use this opportunity, Property and Legal Affairs Office will work on today Sunday, and it will work by 9 p.m. in the coming days.
 
As an additional incentive, he added, decision was adopted for partial applications to be received, i.e. applications containing minimum required documents by identifying the citizen and submitting application for commencing the procedure, and they will be give the possibility, after the expiry of the deadline, to complete their applications and to submit all documents – title deed, property ownership document or other necessary documents.
 
– Government is meeting citizens on this issue so as to be able to use the opportunity to commence the procedure and the purchase of courtyard lots at the price of EUR 1 per square meter, the Minister said.
 
As for whether the deadline for purchase of courtyard lots will be extended after 27th January, Minister Stavreski pointed out that expiry of the deadline will be respected, and afterwards the actual state-of-play will be considered, so as to make analysis and the Government to reach decision on the basis of such analysis.
 
– We will respect the deadline expiry so as to see the actual state-of-play. Analysis will follow and we will submit such analysis to the Government as regards the circumstances, i.e. the number of citizens who managed and the number of citizens who did not manage, due to expiry of the deadline, to submit applications, for the Government to be able to reach decision on the basis of the facts. We are putting all efforts which is evident with the campaign carried out 6-7 months ago on informing the citizens and by having the Property and Legal Affairs Office open its doors.
 
There is lot of applications submitted in the recent period alone, more than 2,500 applications in just a day, compared to the previous period, when that many applications were submitted in a month. Thus, it is obvious that the citizens are already aware that this is a great opportunity and they strive to use it. We will do our best for as many citizens as possible, during these several days, to use such opportunity, the Minister said, calling the citizens once more to go to the regional offices of the Property and Legal Affairs Office, even with partial documentation, and to submit applications for commencement of the procedure, and afterwards they will be given the possibility to complete the documentation.
 
The state expects no large amounts of funds on the basis of this measure, taking into account that the price is minimal. – All in all, around Denar 200 to Denar 300 million will be collected as budget revenue. However, what is more important to us is the other effect, that being the possibility to round up the privatization process, giving the citizens a possibility for the courtyard lots to be in their ownership, thus obtaining a capital they can use afterwards, transfer to the next generations, capitalize it through the possibility to mortgage it in the banks to obtain credits. All this has so many benefits from both the point of view of the citizens and the point of view of the state, Minister Zoran Stavreski underlined.(MIA)
