The President of the Democratic People's Party (DNP) and MP in the Parliament of Montenegro, Milan Knežević, today called on the Ambassador of Turkey to Montenegro, Bariš Kalkavan, to appeal to the Turkish companies "Kuzu" and "Alkatraš" to abandon the construction of a wastewater treatment plant (collector) in Botun.
According to the DNP, Knežević sent an open letter to Kalkavan.
"Your Excellency, Mr. Kalkavan,
"I am forced to address you publicly on behalf of 16 thousand citizens of Zeta who have only one wish: a healthy environment for themselves and their descendants. I am convinced that these months you have been closely following the institutional struggle of the citizens of Botun and Zeta against the intention of the Capital City to install a wastewater treatment plant with an incinerator on the territory of the Zeta municipality. This struggle has been going on for two and a half decades, during which time many of the citizens of Botun and Zeta have lost their loved ones due to the devastating impact of KAP, which has permanently devastated the living space in this location. I also believe that you are aware of the fact that the Zeta Assembly has called a referendum for December 14th, at which all adult citizens of this municipality should declare whether they are for or against the installation of this plant in Botun," Knežević emphasized in his letter to Kalkavan.
He told the Turkish ambassador that "taking into account all the above facts and the determination of the people of Zeća to defend their right to a healthy environment with their lives, I would like to ask you the following."
"To contribute to calming tensions with your authority and diplomatic wisdom by appealing to the Turkish companies Kuzu and Alkatraş to abandon this arrangement and to seek their rights in an arbitration court or through an annex to the existing contract. You will agree that no project, regardless of who is the investor and who is the contractor, is more important than a single human life. We want the best relations with the Republic of Turkey, which is why I am asking you to jointly contribute to that goal. And we can contribute if the companies Kuzu and Alkatraş abandon the construction of the wastewater treatment plant in Botun. I believe that this goal is achievable, and that it is in the mutual interest of Montenegro and Turkey," said Knežević.
The DNP leader stated in a letter to Kalkavan that "after yesterday's magnificent rally in Botun, which was also a kind of plebiscite, it is clear to you that the citizens of Zeta will not give up passive resistance to this sinister plan against their health at any cost."
"That is why I ask you to contribute to stopping this perverse mechanism that can lead us all to unforeseeable consequences. Ready to contribute to the search for a realistic compromise, I warmly greet you, confident that you will perceive this address of mine as well-intentioned and friendly," Knežević wrote in a letter to the Turkish Ambassador to Montenegro, Bariš Kalkavan.
The residents of Botuni have been protesting for days against the construction of a collector in this Zeta settlement.
The contract for the construction of the main wastewater treatment plant in Botun was signed in 2022 with the contractor - the Turkish companies "Kuzu Group" and "Alkatraş".
The contract was signed by former Mayor of Podgorica Ivan Vuković, former Director of the City Enterprise "Water Supply and Sewerage" Filip Makrid, Mehmet Emre Bastopku, Director of the company "Kuzu Group", and Bauram Albauark, member of the board of directors of "Alkataš".
DON'T MISS IT
Bonus video:
