The Albanian-American community has called on the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spakić, to suspend all negotiations regarding Velika Plaža until the Ulcinj municipal administration and local stakeholders are included in the decision-making process.
They addressed Spajić with a letter, and also sent it to the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović.
We are quoting the letter they sent in its entirety:
"We, members of the Albanian-American community, who maintain deep personal and historical ties to Montenegro, and specifically to Ulcinj, are writing to express our serious concern over the recent adoption by the Montenegrin Parliament of two controversial agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These agreements pave the way for the development of the Velika Plaza in Ulcinj, a large-scale project that has already caused significant public outcry.
While we support the development of this region by the state or through foreign direct investment (FDI), the current procedures, which are being conducted quickly and without crucial transparency, violate both domestic and international laws.
The process so far has excluded local municipal authorities, residents and relevant national and international experts. These exclusions are in contradiction with EU norms and undermine the legal framework, democratic principles and the rights of the Albanian minority. The omission of local stakeholders not only violates the Montenegrin Law on Spatial Planning and the Law on State Property, which require consultation and fair management, but also exacerbates historical challenges. In particular, Article 64 of the 2009 Law on State Property, which refers to municipal land and investments, as well as the unjustly expropriated ownership share of the Ulcinj municipality in former state-owned enterprises under municipal jurisdiction, further complicate matters. These procedural shortcomings are in sharp conflict with the governance standards that Montenegro has committed to, especially in light of its EU accession efforts.
Velika Plaza is ecologically significant at an international level, encompassing the ecosystem of Ada Bojana and Ulcinj Salt Pans, and possesses significant cultural value for the Albanian community. Undertaking development investments without strict environmental protection measures and involving the local population poses a threat of irreversible damage. We strongly advocate that, in order to achieve long-term success, all development plans must comply with sustainability standards aligned with EU, United Nations and UNESCO guidelines.
There are systemic problems with the Law on Coastal Property that centralize coastal management and undermine local governance, thereby marginalizing the Albanian population of Ulcinj and violating the principle of subsidiarity. Respect for the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities requires the active participation of the Albanian community in decisions that affect their lives. We strongly oppose any efforts to circumvent due process through legislative shortcuts through 'Lex Specialis'.
In order to address these issues and ensure that development is in line with Montenegro's legal and international obligations and commitments, we respectfully urge you to immediately take the following measures:
- Suspend all negotiations regarding Velika Plaža until the Ulcinj municipal government and local stakeholders are included in the decision-making process with significant influence.
- Commission impartial and comprehensive audits to examine the project's legal status, environmental impacts, social implications and compliance with EU standards, ensuring that the results are publicly available.
- Publicly confirm the commitment of Montenegro and your government to the principles of municipal autonomy, the protection of the rights of national minorities under domestic and international laws, and the application of transparent EU regulations to this project.
As investment advocates, we believe that a sustainable future for the region is best achieved through transparent financing by reputable international investors, in cooperation with national and local governing bodies. We are committed to the success of all projects in Ulcinj and Montenegro and to avoiding the many past cases where anticipated excitement turned into public disappointment.
Development should serve the long-term interests of all citizens, while respecting the rule of law, environmental integrity and cultural heritage.
"We appreciate your attention to these key issues for your constituents and look forward to your prompt response," the letter states.
Signatories: Cafo Boga, Sado Dollaku, Mark Gjonaj, Sabri Gjoni, Richard Lukaj, Nik Markola, Etrita Ibroci, Naser Cobi.
Supporting organizations:
Pan-Albanian Federation of America-VATRA
Diaspora Coordinating Council-KKD
Albanian American Association Ulcinj - Chicago
Albanian American Association Ulqini - New York
Albanian American Association, Inc.
Albanian American Cultural Foundation
Albanian American Humanitarian Fund "Trojet Tona"
Don Gjon Buzuku Association- Chicago
Don Gjon Buzuku Association- New York
Don Simon Filipaj Foundation
Hoti i Kujit Foundation
Plave Guci Foundation
Humanitarian Rapsha Foundation
Germin
Lukaj Foundation
Association Ana e Mali
Greater Malaysia Patriotic Association - Michigan
Besi Association
Echo of the Highlands Association
Association Kraja
Koja Association
Greater Malaysia Association - California
Greater Malaysia Association - New York
Trieshi Humanitarian Fund
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