President of the municipality of Pljevlja Dario Vranes believes that local government has made the biggest development leap in the past 30 years, especially in the area of infrastructure and urban planning. In an interview with "Vijesti", he emphasizes that development must not be separated from the fight for a healthy environment and conditions that will enable young people to stay and build a future in their city.
He claims that in Pljevlja all peoples enjoy equal rights and freedom to express their identity without fear and division. He says that different political views are not a conflict, but a democratic reality, and that politics must be based on facts, not politics. He also claims that he has no conflict with the president of the Municipal Board. Milan Lekić, but just have different views on certain political topics
How do you evaluate the work of the Municipality of Pljevlja in the past year and what do you consider to be the greatest success of your administration?
The work of this local government has proven to be the best in the last 30 years. I consider the construction of infrastructure, primarily road infrastructure, where, among other things, 62 kilometers of local roads were paved during the last construction season, to be the greatest success. I regret that this parliamentary majority did not find the strength to send an initiative to the Government to lift the ban on construction from those locations where it is certain that there will never be coal exploitation - this ban has been in force since 1990 and prevents the development of business zones in Pljevlja.
What key projects have been started and what stage is their implementation at?
Our focus is on road infrastructure and city planning. This year, among other things, 11.300 square meters of thermal facades have been renovated, we have a signed contract for asphalting streets worth 700.000 euros, the drinking water processing plant in Bogiševac is in the final phase, the 4,1 kilometer return pipeline is about 65 percent complete, the reconstruction of Velimir Jakić Street with a roundabout worth 1.100.000 euros has been completed, sports fields in the Potrlica settlement and near the new mine building have been completed, city lighting in the Radosavac and Komini settlements has been put into operation, and city and suburban transport is starting to operate these days...
How do you respond to criticism that the Municipality does not have a clear development strategy, but rather operates from decision to decision?
The current government knows very well what it wants, and even better what it doesn't want. For decades, the interests of Pljevlja have been subordinated to the interests of the state, or rather the Electric Power Company. We are working to create an environment where young people stay to live and work in Pljevlja through infrastructure, jobs, and above all through a healthy environment. People in the 21st century do not want to live in a polluted environment and breathe toxic air, no matter how high their salaries are.
What projects do you plan to implement next year and how much money will be allocated for these purposes?
With the first days of spring, we are already starting with the works for which we have concluded contracts with contractors: “Štrabag” is carrying out the reconstruction of Save Kovačevića Street with a roundabout in Guke and the Dajevića Han-Jugoštica road, worth 6.000.000 euros. DOO “Konstruktor” is carrying out the reconstruction of Nemanjina Street - 785.000 euros. The construction of 10 children's playgrounds is already starting these days - 200.000 euros. DOO “Čistoća” is carrying out works on the construction of city lighting in Serdara Janko Vukotića Street. Tenders are underway for the road "Hospital-City Cemetery" - 1.250.000 euros and Patriarch Varnava Square - 580.000 euros. We have allocated around 1.000.000 euros for the adaptation of facades, 200.000 euros for the reconstruction of the Bajić House into an ethnographic museum, 150.000 euros for the reconstruction of sidewalks, we have completed the design of the parking lot in the Moćevac settlement for 420.000 euros, the tender procedure for the installation of traffic lights is underway for 250.000 euros, Zetska Street is being designed, work on the "Troje česme" water supply system continues, studies have been completed for the continuation of the road towards Bobovo, the Dovolja Monastery, Đurđević Tara and a number of other projects.
What is the relationship between the local government in Pljevlja and the Government of Montenegro and how much has the state invested, and how much will it invest in the coming years and in which projects?
The Government's attitude depended on the attitude of individual ministries. I would like to commend the cooperation with the ministries of agriculture and transport. The construction of the "House of Agriculture" is proceeding at a good pace - during the year we will receive a modern facility worth 1.800.000 euros. The Minister of Transport had a special sensitivity towards Pljevlja: the bridge on the Tara River is being reconstructed - 6.200.000 euros, the King Peter and Alexander bridges have been opened to traffic, the Trlica-Otilovići road has been paved after 36 years, the Boljanići-Metaljka road project has been completed and revised. I see the lack of a positive response, despite many promises, to resolve the issue of the "Ada" sports hall as a deficiency in understanding Pljevlja.
Pljevlja is still facing serious air pollution, what has been done and is the state helping enough or are the citizens left to their own devices?
The municipality is trying to reduce pollution through a series of subsidy measures, subsidies for pellets, thermal facades, air conditioners and carpentry, as well as through a special arrangement with the Eco Fund. This has yielded results. Over 1.200 households in the city have stopped using coal. The state has finally realized that it must invest in Pljevlja, if it does not want the city to suffer the fate of the Gradac settlement. Investment in district heating is commendable, but implementation is unreasonably slow and I express my concern about whether the project will be completed.
How do you comment on the assessments that environmental issues are used for political purposes, but that there are no concrete results?
For the first time, local authorities raised their voices against pollution, and this surprised many. The worst political message was decades of silence on the enormous pollution and poisoning of citizens. Now things have changed and we need to present arguments about the ecological situation without politicking.
What specific measures does the local government plan to introduce or already implement to encourage births, retain young families, and stop negative demographic trends?
In the last 20 years, Pljevlja has lost one third of its population, or 12.000 people. The main causes are pollution and lack of jobs. Now it will take a long time to correct this. The municipality is investing around 2.200.000 euros in a set of measures. Child benefits, support for pregnant and postpartum women, subsidies for housing loans for young married couples and benefits for young couples in rural areas are just some of the measures to stop negative demographic trends. The measures have yielded results and for the first time in the last 20 years, the number of enrolled first-year students was higher than the previous year, this time by 17. That is a good sign.
Are there any investors interested in investing in Pljevlja and what are you doing to improve the economy, especially in the field of agriculture, attracting investments and creating new jobs?
Pljevlja has fantastic resources, almost inexhaustible. The prerequisite for any investor to come to Pljevlja is roads, and that is why we have focused on the development of roads. Last year, 18.500.000 liters of milk were produced in our municipality, and two-thirds of it was processed outside Pljevlja. We have focused on this area and we already have interested investors in the dairy sector. I do not see the future of the city in the exploitation of coal, but in the exploitation of a renewable natural resource - forests. The annual felling rate on the territory of the municipality is 150.000 to 200.000 cubic meters of wood mass. This wood needs to be processed into a final product and I see a real chance for sustainable jobs there. This issue should be resolved by the state. Even now, older Pljevlja residents remember that it was more profitable to work in the former giant of the wood industry "Velimir Jakić" than in the Coal Mine.
How do you see the future of the Thermal Power Plant and the Coal Mine and what consequences would their closure have for the municipality?
The operation of the TPP and RU will depend on the global political scene and at the moment no one has any real information about how long they will operate. The current functioning of the state depends on the operation of the TPP and the Mine, and we can see this in the panicked struggle of the top people of the Electric Power Industry to continue operating these plants at all costs despite all the pollution. The closure of the RU and TPP is inevitable one day and will affect the rest of Montenegro much more than the people of Pljevlja. Mr. Đordan's statement tells you everything: "without the electricity produced by the Pljevlja TPP, citizens would pay three to four times more for it on the market.
What are the relations like in the coalition and are there any cracks within the local government?
Local government functions well and this is evident from the results. There are different political views on some issues, but I think they come more from the headquarters of individual parties.
How do you see the responsibility of the mayor in maintaining political stability?
The function of the mayor requires that he or she work in the interest of all citizens, not any political party. The control mechanism of the executive branch is the Assembly. We are all aware that some politicians have seen politics as a trade and the political influence of the party as a mechanism for disciplining the executive branch. However, when the facts are presented to the public, everything finds its rightful place.
What is your relationship with the president of the Nova Civic Organization, Milan Lekić, and is there an open political conflict?
I have no personal conflict with Mr. Milan Lekić, he is my friend. It is true that we have different views on some political issues, but that does not mean that we are in conflict. Mr. Lekić has made an immeasurable contribution to Pljevlja since he was first elected as the Director of the Waterworks 23 years ago, then as the Executive Director of the Coal Mine, President of the Board of Directors of the RU, and now as a retired person, active in the state parliament.
Nova councilors have boycotted the work of the Assembly on several occasions. What, in your opinion, is the real reason for that boycott? Have you attempted a political dialogue with the councilors and what was the outcome of those talks?
That is more of a question for the councilors than for me. I have an excellent relationship with all the councilors and they are all unwavering fighters for Pljevlja and the idea that the New Serbian Democracy inherits.
You are often criticized for favoring the Serbian people at the expense of other national communities. How do you respond to these accusations?
In Pljevlja, all peoples enjoy equal rights, which is why I constantly mention that Pljevlja is the freest city in Montenegro. Those who criticize me for favoring the Serbian people can't get used to the fact that Serbs have finally become equal with all peoples, at least in Pljevlja, and that freedom came after three decades of discrimination against the Serbian people by the regime. Milo Đukanović.
Do you think that your messages have always served to calm tensions or have you sometimes consciously entered into political conflicts?
If someone experiences tension when I present an undeniable fact, it is logical for them to respond with the fact, and not to defend themselves with the concept of tension. After all, at the root of any tension is fear! And if they are stating a true fact, then why are they afraid and suffering tension? As a people, we have lived for decades in an environment where a lot of things had to be whispered, and now when someone publicly says what was whispered, many are under “tension”.
In your statements, you often emphasize Pljevlja's ties to Serbia, while critics warn that this relativizes Pljevlja's belonging to Montenegro. How do you, as the mayor, reconcile your personal political beliefs with the constitutional obligation to equally represent all citizens and respect the state framework of Montenegro?
Pljevlja belongs to Montenegro and no one questions that. But that should not be an obstacle for the 66 percent of citizens of Pljevlja who declare themselves as Serbs not to express their national feelings. This obviously bothers some people in Montenegro. In Montenegro, unfortunately, there are still those “troublesome old ladies” from the “Mountainous Wreath” who are causing discord among the tribes and spreading non-existent fear.
Do you think that a local official should refrain from state and identity messages that may be shared by the public?
We had the greatest identity divisions precisely during the decades of communist rule, when identity issues had to be kept quiet or, at best, whispered about. Identity issues should unite, not divide, and we will understand this only when we as a people experience spiritual renewal and realize that at the core of everything is the human being.
Identity issues should come before communal problems
The public has the impression that identity issues are being put ahead of the communal and life problems of citizens. How do you comment on that?
Identity issues should come before communal issues. Only unhappy nations sweep identity under the rug. Do you think that the issue of a municipal waste incinerator is more important to a Frenchman than "La Marseillaise", a biography of Napoleon or the works of Victor Hugo. If we want to join the family of European nations, we must know who we are, whose we are, what we want and what we do not want. European nations resolved their identity issues long ago, created a good foundation, are proud of their nation and are now concerned with the economy and prosperity.
We are an old European people, not some faceless mass. Those who think that economic revival will bring spiritual revival are mistaken. It is exactly the opposite, economic revival will come as a consequence of spiritual revival. If a Frenchman sings “La Marseillaise” in Belgium, that is normal, and if a Serb sings “God of Justice” in Montenegro, many declare him the mortal enemy of Montenegro. These are not European values. Citizens should be guaranteed freedom, equality and the rule of law, and we will all be better off.
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