Leković: An error was made and Maljevik was stopped for the umpteenth time, the owner was not informed about the public discussion due to the error.

The locality where the implementation of the "Maljevik" project is planned is located in the area of ​​protected natural property - "Katič" Nature Park, and during the public discussion that preceded the protection of this area, the investor and owner of the plots "Sonuba Montenegro" was not informed about it, which is mandatory and prescribed by the Law on Nature Protection.

This is stated in the reply sent by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property to the Democratic representative and councilor in the Bar Municipality Assembly, Momcilo Leković.

Leković asked Minister Janko Odović about solving possible problems and delays that slow down the realization of this tourism project or could ultimately jeopardize it completely. The representative of the investor said at the beginning of the year that the problem is that the company is the owner of a part of the plot that has been declared a natural asset, and that if this is not resolved, they will ask for compensation.

In the answer to Leković, the ministry said that this locality was placed under protection based on the Protection Study prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency, with the adoption of the Decision on declaring the Katič Nature Park a protected area.

Leković says that the verification established that Sonuba Montenegro, during the Public Hearing for the Proposed Decision and the Protection Study, was not informed about the procedure, as the owner of the site in question, which is required by the Law on Nature Protection, since it was not listed in the Protection Study as the owner , but the Municipality of Bar.

"Here, the question arises, how is it possible that during the Public Hearing, no one, and I am particularly referring to the Municipality of Bar, did not notice the alleged "omission" in connection with the ownership of ten parcels in question, given that this is not a minor project, but a multi-million project an investment that has been current for almost two decades and that everyone knew about and was obliged to know about, and I am especially thinking of municipal and state institutions," asked Leković.

He says that the Agency officials informed him in an informal conversation that according to data from the cadastre, the disputed plots were marked as the property of the Municipality of Bar, and that it remains unclear how they were marked as private overnight.

After the observed omission, two meetings were held in the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North, two meetings were organized with representatives of "Sonuba Montenegro" and the Agency.

"On the same, it was concluded that the best option is for the representatives of "Sonuba Montenegro" and the Agency, through direct communication regarding the implementation of the "Maljevik" project, to try to find a solution that would enable its implementation, while preserving biodiversity, Natura 2000 habitats and species that they protect on the basis of EU Directives, as the values ​​for which the area in question is protected," said Leković.

In their response to Leković, the ministry points out that, bearing in mind the importance of protected marine areas both at the national and international level, and the already acquired integrity of Montenegro in the Mediterranean and beyond in the field of marine ecosystem protection, they believe that it is necessary to express the readiness of both parties in order for this the problem was overcome, whereby they propose that, taking into account the importance of the project area from the aspect of natural values ​​on the one hand and the indisputable right of the investor on the other hand, in direct communication, a proposal of a variant solution for the implementation of the project, which will be compatible with the protection regimes of this area .

"Honestly hoping that a compromise solution will be reached soon, I cannot shake the impression that the "Maljevik" project has been "stuck" for the umpteenth time in the last ten years, and again due to an alleged "failure" which in this case the investor probably it absolves all guilt, and puts the state in a very unfavorable position and makes it responsible for any damage that may occur as a result of this stoppage. Perhaps this impression of mine could be checked by the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT)," said Leković.