We ask the MPs not to vote in the Parliament today on the Bill on Ratifying the Agreement with the United Arab Emirates, which relates to tourism and real estate development. We urge them to wait for the opinions of the European Commission, the Competition Protection Agency and the Anti-Corruption Agency.
This was stated by the director of the Center for the Protection and Study of Birds, Jovana Janjušević, at a protest in front of the parliament building. The rally was organized by the "Big Beach or Big Lie" initiative.
Janjušević said that the entire process is being carried out in a rushed and non-transparent manner, and that neither the professional public nor the local community is involved.
"In less than 20 days from the signing, we have it on the Assembly agenda. Today, the Assembly is deciding not only about Velika Plaza, but also about the sovereignty of the country. The agreement that will give any investor coming from the UAE the status of a privileged investor is problematic. Velika Plaza is one of the most valuable ecosystems we can find on the coast," she pointed out, adding that this location will become a "Natura 2000" habitat upon entering the European Union.
She emphasized that the Ulcinj Salt Pans are also problematic as the final benchmark for closing Chapter 27 of the negotiations, but also that protected areas mean nothing to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and the MPs.
"According to the Constitution, we are an ecological state, but I fear that we are only on paper and not in practice. The agreement is illegal because it does not imply investor responsibility, there is no control mechanism..."
Video: Mirko Kotlas
The "Big Beach or Big Lie" coalition consists of: Center for Bird Protection and Research (CZIP), NGO EnvPro, NGO Dinarida Parks, Center for Investigative Journalism (CINCG), NGO KANA, Dr Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association (MSJA), CEE Bankwatch Network, NGO Montenegrin Society of Ecologists, NGO Green Home, NGO MogUL, Portal Ulcinj info, NGO Network for Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS), Biciklo.me, Expeditio, NGO Gradionica, Center for Civic Education (CCE).
Ulcinj activist Zenepa Lika said that they came to the Parliament because the Government had been ignoring them for a month, and that the tenders for the beaches revealed the plan of Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and his "companions", because they were strange and non-transparent.
"This showed the plans of Spajić and Alabar. Total concreteization and exclusion of the local community, as if we don't exist. We will defend the state because those who should work for its benefit are not doing so. The Municipality of Ulcinj asked to be respected, the Government is ignoring it, and we are part of this state. The Constitution does not allow us to be ignored. This law is illegal and the citizens of Ulcinj said no to the seizure of Velika Plaza," she emphasized.
She pointed out that the MPs who vote for agreements today are not standing on the right side of history, while the citizens are.
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