The President of the Municipality of Ulcinj, Genci Nimanbegu, in an open letter to Mohamed Alabar, thanked this businessman and the Government of Montenegro for strengthening the spirit of unity, solidarity and concern for the public interest in the community he represents and told them that the local administration will make additional decisions in the coming period that will strengthen their position that construction on Velika Plaza, "at this moment and in this way", cannot be allowed.
Nimanbegu also told the owner of the Eagle Hills company that the possibility of international competitions and investment projects will only exist once the process of designing a sustainable and visionary development strategy for the Velika Plaža area is completed.
We are transmitting the open letter in its entirety:
"Dear Mr. Alabbar,
A lot of time has passed since our meeting, which took place in the office of the Prime Minister of Montenegro. You left me with the impression of a reasonable and responsible man with a clear vision and clear determination. This impression was further strengthened by your statement that you never forget your mother's words: that you should respect the hosts in whose homes and countries you want to invest.
I was particularly impressed by your sincere emotion when you said that you were lucky to be born in a magnificent city, at the right time. We, the people of Ulcinj, feel a similar privilege - because we were born in the oldest city on the Adriatic, in the most picturesque part of the Mediterranean. Our city has been a crossroads of civilizations and empires for centuries, and the traces of those great epochs still live among us today. All those empires have disappeared, and Ulcinj, strong in its tradition and way of life, still stands - and we believe it will remain so until Judgment Day.
Ulcinj is one of the most tolerant cities in the Mediterranean. Throughout our history, cultures, religions, languages and peoples have fruitfully intertwined here. Today, it is a unique cultural and tourist destination, a bright alternative to oblivion, commercialization and loss of identity.
We are proud of our history, culture, customs, but perhaps most of all of our nature. We sincerely believe that Ulcinj is the most beautiful city in the world. God has given us everything we need for a dignified and quality life, and we are grateful to Him for that. That is why our elders say that this is "a land of the soul". Our ancestors may have had less than we do today, but thanks to their wisdom, we almost all live in our own homes.
Your interest in investing, as well as the positions of our Government, had a positive effect - they made us even more aware of the value and beauty of our space. They reminded us that such a precious heritage must be carefully and long-term cared for. Our land is not a commodity. It carries the soul of our identity. And that is why we cannot agree to, at the beginning of the third millennium, in the name of rapid development, hand over precious parts of our territory to management for an entire century.
DON'T MISS IT
We are grateful to you and our Government because, perhaps unplanned, the spirit of unity, solidarity and concern for the public interest in our community has been strengthened. In this spirit, the Ulcinj Municipal Assembly twice in March unanimously adopted conclusions expressing clear and deep disagreement with the intention to conclude agreements on the transfer of our property to foreign investors for almost a century without consulting us. We organized mass gatherings of citizens, the civil sector in Ulcinj and throughout Montenegro reacted, as did the President of the state himself. Everyone made it clear that this approach to development is not acceptable.
In the coming days, we will make additional decisions that will reinforce our position: that construction on Velika Plaza, at this time and in this way, cannot be allowed. We have launched an open public dialogue on how to responsibly develop this area, which is already protected as a Natural Monument. Also, at our initiative, the Bojana Delta - of which Velika Plaza is an inseparable part - will be nominated for a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. There is also a real basis for it to enter the Natura 2000 network as a protected area at the European level.
Therefore, we hereby inform you, dear Mr. Alabbar, that the possibility for international competitions and investment projects will only exist when we complete this process of designing a sustainable and visionary development strategy for the entire area. Anything else, outside this framework and against the will of the citizens of Ulcinj, is unacceptable to us and will be met with a decisive institutional and social response. In the hope that this letter finds you in good health and spirits, please accept my expressions of respect and warm greetings from Ulcinj," reads Nimanbegu's open letter.
Bonus video:
