The municipal committee of the Civic Movement URA, during the constitution of the new Budva government in 2016, already at the first meeting asked to make a list of priorities in the municipality of Budva.
According to Blaž Rađenović, one of the leading priorities was the return of the Citadel.
"That initiative was unanimously accepted by all coalition partners participating in the government. As we were informed, on several occasions talks were held with the current owner of the Citadel, Mr. Ćupić, but there was no progress in that matter."
"The Citadel is a key facility for the city of Budva and its functioning, and it is unthinkable that such an important cultural and historical space, located in the very center of ancient Budva, should be owned by anyone other than the Municipality and its citizens. We remind you that the separation of the Citadel from of the city's cultural core has so far resulted in millions of damages and a reduction of what cultural institutions could achieve and provide, especially the City Theater. The special damage is in the domain of citizens' trust in justice and fairness, which was caused by those who were entrusted with the city and its functions", said Rađenović.
He states that as representatives of the Civic Movement URA, which in the pre-election and post-election period exclusively and only adhered to the principles and promises given to the citizens, they see the return of the Citadel and its implementation as part of the city's cultural policy and offer as their obligation.
"This obligation stems from the agreed and signed Coalition Agreement, and that is why we will ask that this item be on the agenda of coalition meetings and the session of the Council of Ministers as soon as possible.
"We note that, regardless of the controversies that followed the exchange of 684 square meters of renovated and extremely valuable residential space on the Citadel for 684 square meters of apartments in Tivat, at the location 'Delfin', we do not want to harm anyone or rob them of anything. However, the inviolability of private property does not imply that they accept the current situation forever and absolve from responsibility those who made extremely unfavorable jobs possible for the city".
"For this reason, we will ask for the involvement of experts and licensed persons who deal with real estate appraisals, and all this after the president of the municipality, Mr. Carević, has previously held an interview with the current owner. Depending on the estimated amount of compensation, as well as the previously reached agreement, we will demand that the municipality return "Citadel to the city of which it is an inseparable cultural landmark", pointed out Radjenović.
GP URA believes that the current owner will also have the understanding and will to return the Citadel to the city, and if the funds available to the Municipality are not sufficient, they will ask for a rebalancing, i.e. a plan to purchase and return the Citadel to the Municipality of Budva.
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