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DPM Husović in interview with RTCG Portal: Government works hard, does not conduct propaganda

Published on: Mar 16, 2019 • 5:16 PM Author: PR Service
Podgorica, Montenegro (16 March 2019) -- Deputy Prime Minister for Regional Development Rafet Husović says in an interview for national broadcaster RTCG Portal that the views of political calculators have flooded Montenegro's media space, that there is not enough room for the Government's efforts and successes primarily in terms of economy, job creation, infrastructure development and tourism, but that the Government does not conduct propaganda, but works hard for the benefit of the citizens.

RTCG: How do you look at the current political situation, the fierce criticism and calling on citizens to bring down the government on the streets?

DPM HUSOVIĆ: Traditionally, in Montenegro, we tend to look at things from a worse angle. Naturally, the role of critics is always easier. But when this critics does not offer concrete solutions, then it turns into hypocrisy that does not contribute to the citizens, but burdens the already complicated social reality. If we speak completely openly about Montenegro in 2019, we will admit that some things can be better. But we also need to be totally honest - many things in Montenegro today are better than two years ago, and much better in relation to the period before that. In particular if we look at the period from the restoration of independence.

I felt the need to consider, as the Deputy Prime Minister, the statements made by of political calculators that have flooded the Montenegrin media space these days. I am telling them: Our country is moving forward dynamically, and no one will unhinge this government in its determination to make the citizens of Montenegro live better.

RTCG: Critics stresses that the authorities do not take citizens and their needs into account to a sufficient extent.

DPM HUSOVIĆ: I did not see that any of the "friends of the civic Montenegro" said a word about the decision that higher education in Montenegro, and not only primary and secondary schools, is free of charge, and that this cost was paid by the Government, at the same time not reducing other services and budget allocations. They did not even mention the fact that in the past two years over 1,500 new places in kindergartens have been opened for our children, and over 150 facilities in education and health have been reconstructed and built. Is it not important that this Government has provided 150 specialties to young doctors, and that 50 more are planned for this year. Therefore, we come up to 200 medical specialists who will take care of the health of each of us.

RTCG: You are in charge of regional development. You said that situation in Montenegro today is better than before. Is this also true for a balanced regional development?

DPM HUSOVIĆ: First and foremost, our commitment to balanced regional development cannot be endangered by the stories about problems with the construction of the motorway. Our development policy will result in its completion in the next year, thanks to which the North will be given a development impulse that older generations could not even imagine. I will remind you that at the beginning of the mandate of this Government only 5 building permits were issued, and that since 2017, that number has risen to 29.

Who can peacefully and conscientiously ignore the fact that every kilometre of the Podgorica-Budva road have been reconstructed or built. Then we have the Njeguši - Cetinje road, bypass Podgorica-Golubovci, Petrovići - Vraćenovići road, Crkvice - Vrulja road, Petnjica - Berane road, Dračenovac-Rožaje-Berane road, Mojkovac-Ribarevine road. The road to Gusinje and Plav, through the territory of Albania, worth over 11 million euros, will shorten the 2/3 of distance between these cities from the capital. More than 100 kilometres of other roads were built or are being built. Regional development policies were also specified by the Law on Local Government Financing, and orthern municipalities will receive more than EUR 10 million from the Government.

RTCG: We note important steps in tourism in the North. Kolašin 1600 Ski Resort has been opened, similar resorts are planned on Bjelasica, as well as a ski centre in Rožaje.

DPM HUSOVIĆ: Thank you for that reminder. Of course, thanks to the efforts of Prime Minister Marković and the leaders of this Government, the Kolašin 1600 Ski Resort was completed, and conditions are created for credible investors to start building prestigious hotels on the Bjelasica Mountain. But it is not only Bjelasica. And Hajla has opened its tourism potential - a tender for the purchase of a modern cable car worth EUR 9 million today is a reality. People are already working in our ski resorts, and they expect new jobs in the production and economy to be created in the coming period.

This is a good opportunity to look at the critics: Can anyone claim that the previous two years have not been a record-breaking in tourism given the fact that a billion of euros of revenue was exceeded and 59 hotels have been opened. I would like to remind you that 14 4 and 5-star hotels were opened last year alone, and in comparison, in 2006, we had only two 5-star hotels opened.

RTCG: You mentioned employment as well, and that the success of this Government is the creation of new jobs.

DPM HUSOVIĆ: If almost 12,000 new jobs are not a result that confirms that the potential for employment has accompanied a stable, and we can say, a record-breaking rate of economic growth in the previous two years, if this does not confirm that the coordinated approach enhances the work of inspection bodies in a way that contributes to the reduction of the grey economy - then what the success is anyway? The Government, through the Investment and Development Fund, supported business people with more than EUR 200 million last year, and this and other measures saved over 200 small companies from bankruptcy. Thousands of our citizens work there, and we think about them and their families every day. Agribusinesses have broken records that will reach 100 million euros invested in our agriculture, farms and individual farms.

Carbonated water factory Rada, symbol of Bijelo Polje and Montenegro, is doing business again. Until recently, it was bankrupt, and today we have the opportunity to preserve a tenth of millions of euros in our economy, to hire new people and export carbonated water. Rad has a NATO code, and another 11 Montenegrin companies have NATO codes for 143 national products. This, among other things, is one of the achievements of our membership in the Alliance after June 2017, the benefit which citizens feel every day.

And here I will stop. It is not my intention to list everything we did and are doing. If all of this was not known and recognised, I will not say right away that it is an evil intention. This may be the case as we do not want to brag and work on our personal and Government's PR. Some people just work and keep quiet.

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