The Trade and Industry Affairs and the Legal and Administrative Affairs standing committees held public hearing discussions on the draft proclamation of the period of limitation for submission of restitution claims and the repossession of public properties taken through unlawful restitution on February 6, 2008.

According to the preamble of the draft proclamation the enactment of the bill has become necessary to prescribe a period of limitation for submission of restitution claims pursuant to proclamation No. 110/1995 regarding properties unlawfully expropriated by the defunct military regime.

Meanwhile, director general of the Privatization and Public Enterprises Supervising Agency Ato Beyene G/Meskel stated that the enactment of the draft proclamation is necessary to investigate cases of restitutions and thereby repossess public properties taken through unlawful restitutions based on false evidence.

Meanwhile, with regard to the question raised on repeal of decisions of the Agency, he said that houses that have been expropriated unlawfully would be treated with this proclamation but not include cases that the Agency had taken decisions previously.

Answering the question regarding fraudulent act, the Agency said that the enactment of the draft proclamation would be considered to create consistency with the powers of courts, the police and EFDE Ethics and Ant-corruption commission.