Buljarica residents: We will not be silenced or sold out

The residents of Buljarica, gathered through the civic initiative "Our Buljarica", warned the public about plans to sell this extremely valuable part of the Montenegrin coast to foreign investor Mohamed Alabbar and his company "Eagle Hills", saying that they will not be silenced or sold.

"Without the knowledge and consent of the community, secret negotiations and non-transparent agreements are being conducted in an attempt to privatize the ancestral heritage and turn Buljarica into an exclusive space for the foreign elite," the statement said.

The biggest fear of the locals is the new Law on Strategic Investments, which could soon be adopted.

The proposed changes, they claim, would allow investors to declare large areas of land as "strategic projects," allowing the state to seize private land "for strategic purposes," bypassing environmental protection procedures, as well as the right of the local community and the professional public to participate in decision-making.

At gatherings and meetings in recent weeks, numerous locals have made it clear that Buljarica is not for sale.

"Our land, sea and coastline belong to the people who live here, not to profit-seeking corporations," they stressed in a statement.

Locals have expressed concern over the fact that several individuals, without consulting the community, are holding private meetings with investors and appearing in the media, spreading false claims that Buljarica residents support the project.

"According to available information, these individuals are being offered high prices for their plots in order for the investor to gain a foothold, while later, through the aforementioned law, the forced expropriation of other land owners could be justified," the statement added.

In the meantime, the Municipality of Budva, as they claim, has not shown any willingness for dialogue.

"At the first meeting, locals who expressed concerns were ignored and ridiculed, and expropriation was mentioned as a real possibility. Such an approach further undermines the trust of citizens and demonstrates the lack of transparency and accountability of local authorities. The "Our Buljarica" ​​initiative demands public accountability, full access to information, and protection of the land, nature, and heritage of Buljarica from speculative and non-transparent investments," the statement said.

An international petition has been launched to protect Buljarica and promote greater transparency in decision-making. It is open for signatures worldwide.

"This is not resistance to development, this is a call for justice, dignity and the right to decide our own future," the statement concludes.