Prime Minister Milojko Spajić conveyed to the leaders of the Municipality and Assembly of Ulcinj and the heads of councilor clubs and MPs from that city a message from Mohamed Albar, president of the company "Eagle Hills Properties", which won the recent tender for nine Ulcinj beaches on Velika Plaza, that this global investor is ready to give up on those beaches or sublease them to them where the tenants are Montenegrin citizens.
"Mr. Alabar personally told me that for all the beaches where Montenegrin citizens, or rather Ulcinj residents, applied, he is ready to give up on those beaches, or to sublease them, in whatever way is legally possible or easiest. In this way, those beach owners, or rather former beach owners, would come back to lease those beaches and would be able to carry out all the activities that were planned for four years. So, of course, with the payment of the difference if it is a sublease or if it is cancelled, then those people would be direct tenants," said Spajić after an almost four-hour meeting at the "Mediterranean" hotel.
He stressed that he was satisfied with the meeting, which heard different opinions but also concerns.
"We heard various opinions, we heard concerns, we heard some topics that are completely legitimate and that are raised, and of course with every major investment, every major vision, but it is important that we all rise above any political interests. Every major story requires a lot of work and simply no one expects something to be achieved overnight. However, we must enter carefully, we must enter technically strong, we must, in partnership with the local government, go for a good story, for an investment that will benefit the local population but also the state of Montenegro," said Spajić.
The Mayor of Ulcinj, Genci Nimanbegu, thanked Spajić for coming to Ulcinj at his insistence to discuss the problems implied after the recently completed tender of the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management (PK), as well as the problems that the southernmost municipality has had with that company for decades.
He said that the dissatisfaction in Ulcinj began with the increase in prices for beaches and facilities in the coastal zone and culminated with the appearance of an investor who won nine beaches in a public tender.
"This is a very big issue that we as people, as stakeholders, as leaders of the Government, the Municipality, and political parties must seriously consider. I want the Prime Minister to convey to all investors with whom he has contact that they are welcome here, but that they must have everything that is in the interest of the community," said Nimanbegu.
He said that he had not seen any projection, but that they had been introduced to the idea and that it was a mega project, without discussing the details.
"We, as responsible people, are continuing the talks and these are already things that will be resolved. This responsibility does not belong only to the prime minister or me, but to everyone," Nimanbegu said.
At a recently concluded public auction, the company "Eagle Hills", backed by Arab capital, won the bid for nine mostly connected swimming areas on Velika Plaza, which caused outrage in the southernmost municipality.
Tourism workers and political representatives of Ulcinj believe that the tender was non-transparent, that it should be canceled and the contracts for this year should be annexed, so that the beaches are ready for the upcoming season.
An extraordinary session of the Ulcinj Municipal Council has been announced for tomorrow, where the tender will be discussed, and a large protest rally on Saturday, announced by the tenants of the beach, restaurants, and facilities in the coastal zone.
Spajić's office said last week that there was no legal basis for canceling the tender.
""It is important, first of all, that the local community is satisfied, but also that everything is legal. Based on the information so far, there were no procedural shortcomings in this process. On the other hand, we understand the concerns of part of the local community and we are open to further dialogue that would include potential new tenants," Spajić said at the time.
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