PM Marković visits Kotor: We discuss development, compensation of what municipality has missed over past two and a half years

“Today, in Kotor, I am not only visiting projects and investments that are being implemented, but I am also paying a working visit to the Municipality. We had a very meaningful and constructive meeting. After a long time, unfortunately, the Prime Minister was able to discuss with the local leadership the development issues of Kotor municipality, the challenges that are in the way, because in almost three years I have not had the opportunity, regardless of my insistence, to speak with the previous leadership about these important issues. Unfortunately, it also cost the municipality of Kotor and Montenegro and its economy as a whole,” Prime Minister Marković told the press at the end of the visit.

The Prime Minister noted that all important topics concerning this municipality were discussed at the meeting.

"We have opened all the important issues regarding Kotor and its development and agreed on how to give the fastest and highest quality answers to them and to yield the results quickly. So, we talked about the problems regarding the completion of the sports hall in Kotor and the Kotor pool. Unfortunately, we have problems with contractors on these project. Therefore, we have made a clear commitment today: either they will fulfill their obligations or we will look for other contractors. In any case, we will finish these two capital social infrastructure facilities. We discussed the challenges when it comes to the adoption of the Kotor Spatial Plan, a new spatial plan in relation to the Proposal that had been the subject of the public debate, the positions of UNESCO and the leadership of the Municipality of Kotor. We also discussed future development plans. We talked about a prospective project , that is, a good offer for the construction of a cable car from Kotor to Njeguši, which is an investment of paramount importance for Kotor, for Cetinje, for Lovćen National Park, for the Montenegrin tourism in general. We also talked about what we need to do in terms of capital infrastructure - the construction of a new boulevard from Jaz to Tivat, which also needs to add a new value to Kotor and the citizens of Kotor. The meeting also addressed the benefits that obtaining a high-quality concessionaire for the airport can bring to Tivat and Kotor. We agreed that the Government and the Mayor should be in constant contact and that we should tackle all the challenges on a daily basis in order for Kotor to capture or reap some of the benefits of Montenegro's intensive economic development that it has missed over the last two and a half years," the Prime Minister explained.

“This will be one of the most beautiful hotels in the Bay of Kotor and what is especially important is that the investor has retained and will retain some of the health facilities that will complement the offer of this facility and the municipality of Kotor," said the Prime Minister, adding that the most important thing is that 100 new jobs will be created.

Asked by a reporter about the problem of wastewater drainage, the Prime Minister said that now it is necessary to solve this problem not only in Kotor, but also in Perast and Risan.

"It could have been done earlier with much less money in Yugoslavia, but unfortunately we have to do it today. It will cost a lot more than it would have cost then. This causes more nervousness among citizens than it would have caused then, but we have plans for that and we are going in that direction. We will  also solve the issue of traffic congestion and the lack of fecal and atmospheric sewage,” Prime Minister Marković underlined.

Asked if any other local issues, such as the construction of a bypass around the city, were discussed at the meeting, PM Marković said that this was not the case because it is a complex issue that must be addressed in dialogue with UNESCO.

"We do not want Kotor to lose its position in UNESCO. Kotor is a great Montenegrin value in cultural, and of course not only in cultural but also in identity terms. But it has special value as a UNESCO-protected area as well. Unfortunately, in the previous period we have not been careful in communicating with UNESCO, there are some misunderstandings regarding the development potential of Kotor. We now want to eliminate these misunderstandings and identify together with UNESCO what development interests are, what the needs of this area of ​​Kotor Municipality as a whole are and find the most acceptable solutions. These open issues also include the valorisation of the rampart, and the bypass around this location. Therefore, we still have a lot of work to do regarding these open issues, and at the same time the development needs of the Municipality of Kotor,” the Prime Minister stated.

Asked to comment on the vote in the Prosecutorial Council, the Prime Minister said that each member of the Council is free to decide for themselves.