(Podgorica, 24 June 2012) – The Assembly of Montenegro has in the last four years – which is the period since the adoption of the Spatial Plan of Montenegro – demonstrated that it is not capable to adequately monitor its implementation. This has given the government ample room to redefine urban planning priorities in accordance with the profit motive of a small number of privileged investors close to the government.
For the past four years the Assembly of Montenegro hasn’t requested a single investigation into any of the reports concerning spatial planning that are presented by the Government, nor has there been any interest to hold more extensive hearings with the responsible Ministry into the management of spatial planning in Montenegro.
Instead, the Assembly of Montenegro has regularly voted for planning documents that directly benefited the family of the former Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and figures associated with him. In this way, the Assembly adopted through an expedited procedure in late 2012 a plan for Bjelasica and Komovi that was requested by then PM Djukanovic. The plans were prepared by the company of his brother Aco Djukanovic. MANS then warned about the obvious conflict of interest since Aco Djukanovic owned a significant portion of building land in the context of this plan. Additionally, properties that were encompassed by the plan also belonged to their nephew Edin, who is the son of Ana Kolarevic [the Djukanovic brothers’ sister], as well as the Becirovic family through its company “Beppler & Jacobson.”
In spite of the evident proof of this being a textbook case of conflict of interest, the Parliament voted to adopt the plan, proving once again that it is impossible for this institution to protect the public interest. Some opposition MPs also gave legitimacy to this plan by abstaining from a vote, thus participating in the farce of the ruling party that has continuously presented the parliament’s servility to the Government and its associated tycoons as if it was a product of a functional parliamentarianism.
In such an Assembly the Law on Spatial Organization was amended in order to increase the powers of municipal mayors when it comes to local spatial planning. At the time these amendments were being made MANS tried to draw attention to the self-defeating consequences of such measures when it comes to cadres of the ruling DPS party like Miomir Mugosa [the mayor of Podgorica]and Zarko Pavicevic [the mayor of Bar], who are already being investigated for alleged corruption and abuse of power in relation to spatial planning. Of course, the Assembly remained deaf to these appeals, choosing instead to amend the law.
On the other hand, the Draft Decision to Amend the Spatial Plan of Montenegro that sought to protect the valley of the Ulcinj Saltworks and thus correct the mistake that was made during the enterprise’s privatization, has been gathering dust for more than 6-months as it sits in the desk-drawer of the Assembly’s President Ranko Krivokapic.
The Draft Amendment that was submitted by MANS, and that received the support of opposition MPs included the restoration of the protected status of the Ulcinj saltworks and the continued production of salt in the factory upon which many Ulcinj families depend for their livelihoods. The Draft Amendment was also meant to prevent Veselin Barovic and his Eurofund from damaging the public interest and the state budget by earning hundreds of millions of euros from selling this property as land for development (thus leading to the closure of the salt factory and saltworks).
However, unlike the draft amendment submitted by Djukanovic, his family and associated tycoons, our amendment that aimed to protect the public interest still depends on the good will of those sitting in the parliament, thereby meeting the fate of a majority of opposition initiated proposals.
Eventually, the control function of the Parliament when it comes to anything to do with urban planning is essentially non existent. Never, since the Parliament has existed, has a single public functionary been called to account or been summoned for at least a consultative hearing as a result of the catastrophic state of spatial planning in Montenegro. Cases like Zavala, Avala, Valdanos, Miriste (belonging to Brano Micunovic), and the Ulcinj Staltworks have not been dealt with by the Montenegrin parliament (before which Montenegro’s territory has been devastated without any restraint).
The fact that cadres like Branimir Gvozdenovic, Vujica Lazovic, Predrag Sekulic, Miomir Mugosa and many others similar to them have never been subjected to hearings before any working committee for their actions, demonstrates that the control function of the legislative bodies are practically dead and that it has been subjected to unchallenged servility of the interests of tycoons.
For a long time, the Djukanovic family, the government and associated figures have been able to fulfill their interests directly through the parliament. Opposition MPs should no longer allow themselves to be held hostage in a parliament that acts in such a narrow manner, thereby legitimizing the decisions that are adopted at the expense of Montenegro’s residents. Regardless of the fact that they often vote against or abstain government proposals, opposition MPs by their very presence continue to contribute to the illusion that Montenegro is today a functional democracy. For this reason they must leave the parliament.
