The news about the justice ministry's decision to cancel the decision made by the property affairs office in Istria County on the restitution of real estate to the parish of Dajla causes astonishment also because the latest decision is really extraordinary and also because the Croatian premier has shown intentions to see to it that the issue should be solved in the spirit of cooperation between Croatia and the Holy See, Lombardi was quoted by ANSA as saying.

In addition, this act is not in compliance with the principles of legal security, the dignitary said.

Lombardi said that the parties concerned should be given an opportunity to question the latest decision with relevant institutions.

The Croatian Justice Ministry has declared as null and void a decision by Istria County whereby land on the Church and civil areas of the Benedictine monastery Dajla was given to the Dajla parish, and thus enabled the Republic of Croatia to be entered in land registers as the owner of the said real estate, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The ministry said that in the process of administrative monitoring it gathered documents in the cases of restitution of property to the Dajla parish regarding compensation for the confiscated property in accordance with the law on compensation for property confiscated during the former Yugoslav communist regime.

After reviewing and establishing facts, the ministry adopted a decision on 9 August declaring as null and void decisions by Istria County and its office for property affairs from 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 whereby agricultural and building land in Dajla is given to the Dajla parish, namely the parish was given the right to seek compensation.

The ministry said that its decision annulled all legal effects of the said decisions and would enable Croatia to be entered in the land books as the owner of the said real estate.