Although the topics of UNESCO, the Port and KotorArt are something that has been the subject of public interest until now and about which you are informed every day, I must briefly refer to them as well. As you know, the Government of Montenegro first adopted an action plan, and then a decision to ban construction. I will repeat once again, we consider such decisions to be political pressure, because they were made without consultation with the local self-government, Vladimir Jokić, president of the Municipality of Kotor, announced today.
"The decision to ban construction was not introduced for six months, as we could hear in the media, but until the adoption of the spatial and urban planning plan, which largely depends on a number of factors that we cannot influence. In order not to be misunderstood, the Kotor administration has the greatest interest in Kotor remaining on the UNESCO list, so we don't run away from any obligation. In this regard, we had several meetings with the expert team working on the HIA study and we put all our professional and material capacities at their disposal. The only remaining obligation from the Government's action plan, we will fulfill the appointment of new members in the Council for the Management of the Kotor Area at the first upcoming parliamentary session," said Jokić at the press conference.
He added that the issue of the concession for the Port of Kotor AD is one of the most important issues in Kotor.
"In April, I had talks with representatives of CLIA (world cruise association), representatives of Carnival Corporation and MSC Group, from which the general secretary of CLIA sent a letter to the Government of Montenegro on behalf of all of us with an invitation to a meeting where, among other things, the concession status would be discussed Port of Kotor. In the discussions, we came to the position that Port of Kotor AD, majority owned by the municipality, is a credible and desirable partner as a concessionaire. Until today, we have not received a response to this invitation," said Jokić.
He said that the Government of Montenegro, more precisely the Ministry of Culture, presented its position regarding the organization and financing of KotorArt in the previous period.
"In order not to repeat the joint position expressed several times already about such a move by the ministry, we will look back at what awaits us. This year's Children's Festival of Children's Theater, Don Branko's Music Days and the Clapa Festival, events that are part of KotorArt, along with other accompanying programs , will be held on the announced dates under the auspices of the municipality of Kotor. Kotor has been the capital of Montenegrin culture throughout history and will remain so, regardless of the behavior of the competent ministry," said Jokić.
According to him, in the previous period, the vice presidents of the municipality, the president of the assembly, the director of the directorate and he had intensive communication with the citizens.
"In this sense, within the municipality, we had more than 400 meetings with representatives of citizens and other interested persons. We also visited almost all local communities, and those that remained are planned to be visited for the next period. In any case, with those with with whom we did not meet on the spot, we are in regular communication. As we promised, the formation of a special department for communication with local communities is underway so that we can know the problems on the spot every day and react to their elimination. As in this case, also in all other secretariats and services, new systematizations are being prepared, or have already been completed, on the basis of which we plan to reform the administration. Funds for severance pay have been determined, and the drafting of regulations on the method of payment is underway. All officers and employees, regardless of whether which type of affiliation, and who are ready to work within the framework of the law and who have not violated the law, I am sure they have found a credible partner in the new city administration," explained Jokić.
The President of the Municipality of Kotor also said that within the Office of the Chief Administrator of the Municipality of Kotor, on April 18 of this year, 306 cases were found that were not decided on time.
"To date, a total of 162 cases have been resolved. We expect that in the next two months we will be able to say that there are no backlog cases within the service. In the part of the work of the Directorate for the Arrangement and Construction of Kotor, investment decisions were made to supplement the project on the rehabilitation of the buttresses, as well as for carrying out works on the rehabilitation of landslides in Kavč, the section of the Gorovići-Bratešići road, on the installation of traffic lights on the Riva, as well as on the construction of public lighting in the Contact Zone and buildings in the Old Town. Also, the first phase of mowing of public areas has been completed and re-mowing is underway What you are particularly interested in is certainly the issue of traffic, and here I must say that in addition to all the problems related to the tender and security procedures, a corridor has been agreed through which the tourists from the cruise ships will be directed, and the question of the day when the corridor for tourist buses will also be formalized , which will relieve the main road and the traffic situation will be better. Of course, we expect special developments after the installation of traffic signals, however, until the tender procedure is completed, in cooperation with OB Kotor, the traffic police will regulate pedestrian traffic," said Jokić.
He promised that the issue of communal order in the city will be solved in the coming period with a systemic approach.
"This year, we initiated discussions with all interested parties, primarily restaurateurs, so that they, in agreement with us, would withdraw the terraces within their dimensions and in order to regulate the issue of noise. Progress is visible from the entrance to the city onwards, with the fact that noise can still improve. Within the budgetary possibilities, we have helped certain activities for the promotion of Kotor, such as the activities of the Bokel Navy and similar individuals and institutions. We have allocated funds of 15.000 euros for the rehabilitation of the sanitary facilities in the Kotor General Hospital. Also, with a little more than two and a half thousand euros, we helped the work of the historical archive in Kotor. The irresponsible attitude of the state can perhaps be seen best in these examples. buy textbooks for all champions," said Jokić.
He also said that within the budget, on the revenue side, on June 15, the budget was realized in the amount of 45% or 9.250.366,00 euros, which is 1.573.390,00 euros more than on the same day last year.
"I would like to note that the income from the collection of tickets to the ramparts for the period April-May, ending on June 15 of this year, amounts to 135.812,00 euros, which is 79.000 euros more than for the same period last year. The plan is to acquire electronic systems for charging entrances to fortress and we expect to realize it in the next 45 days. Also, revenues from the collection of the tax for the economic use of cultural goods are 105.000 euros, which is 35.000 euros more than for the same period last year. Budget expenditures as of June 15 are 4.305.000 , which is 23% or 1.319.000 euros less than in the same period last year. Fuel was spent this year three times less than last year, so a total of 19.725,88 euros was spent, while last year in the same period the expenditure was 51.761,00 9.681,83 euros. 27.964,41 euros were spent on the expenses of official trips, which is three times less compared to the same period last year, when the expenses amounted to 4.822,41 euros. Five times less was spent on the expenses of the national team this year in the comparative period of last year, i.e. 19.000 euros, almost XNUMX euros less than last year," concluded Jokić.
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