The National Museum of Montenegro and the cultural and historical treasures kept in it are not endangered, but are in safe hands, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vesna Bratić said today in the parliament.
The deputy of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Dragutin Papović asked the minister about the reasons for the dismissal of Anastazija Miranović from the position of director of that institution.
Bratić, who is currently coordinating the work of the museum, said that Miranović used the institution she headed for personal purposes, to display her fashion creations in exhibitions that she herself opened, "or at least tried to, as was the case for this year's Museum Day".
"Why is the question of conflict of interest not raised when signing the contract with the DPC printing house, for the purpose of printing tickets, publications and other materials; as well as the non-announcement of an open procedure for a lease that amounts to 2.500 euros per month, which is a violation of the Law on Public Procurement. This is only a part so far of established irregularities," the minister added.
She stated that the icon of the Virgin Filermosa "was not placed in the prescribed manner, nor was it protected", which, she said, violated several laws.
"The director of the National Museum, Anastazija Miranović, acted contrary to the regulations and general acts of the institution, which indisputably proves the lack of documentation on the conditions in which cultural treasures are kept, while she did not ensure the legal operation of the institution," explained Bratić.
She said that the reason for the dismissal of Miranović is stated in the Government's decision, while Papović believes that the reason for the dismissal is revanchism.
She reminded that the Government, immediately after the dismissal of Miranović, appointed Živko Radović as the new director. According to Bratić, they appreciated his resignation as a personal act, but also a potential unwillingness to face all the challenges that exist in that institution.
The MP of the DPS said that before the dismissal, the Miranović Museum was a respectable institution that the minister, as he said, had never visited since coordinating her work. He also stated that the museum is still without heating.
Bratić, answering a question from Social Democratic Party deputy Raško Konjević, said that she was appointed coordinator of the National Museum with all the powers that the director of the institution has.
When asked by Konjević whether she feels personally responsible for the fact that the National Museum has not yet provided fuel oil for heating, Bratić replied that the former director was responsible because, as she said, fuel oil must be taken care of long before the start of the heating season.
Konjević said that it is atypical for someone who exercises administrative supervision over the institution's work to coordinate it at the same time, and for someone who can exercise a certain type of financial control to manage them.
As he said, these are all things that indicate that there are obviously certain problems in the department itself, which are not managed adequately.
"All those directors that you replaced, and it is impossible that none of the nearly 300 of them were good, you distributed them all according to party functions, and grabbed for yourself, in addition to the four areas you cover, the National Museum," said Konjević.
Member of Parliament of the Crno na bijelo coalition Božena Jelušić asked Bratić how many lawsuits have been filed so far, in all the areas covered by her department, regarding dismissals from managerial and leadership positions.
Bratić replied that, as of November 24, the Ministry, through the protector of property and legal interests, received 157 lawsuits from dismissed directors of public educational institutions in Montenegro.
As Bratić said, the Ministry submitted to the competent courts a statement on all 157 claims, with a proposal that they be rejected as unfounded.
When asked by Jelušić whether she is ready to bear individual responsibility in the event that the competent institutions prove that certain dismissals were illegal from the aspect of merit or in a formal legal sense, Bratić replied that the director's dismissals were carried out in accordance with the norms of the General Law on Education.
"Therefore, we expect their positive judicial epilogue, regardless of the number", stated Bratić.
In response to a question from DPS deputy Aleksandra Vuković, who designed and implemented strategic documents and goals related to the development of culture in Montenegro, she said that in July the Ministry prepared the final report on the implementation of the Cultural Development Program for the period from 2016 to last year, which contains the results achieved in the realization of strategic goals.
According to Bratić, the report contains recommendations for the next cycle of policy planning in the field of culture.
She said that, after the analyzes are completed, the Ministry will announce a public call for submission of suggestions and proposals for the preparation of a high-quality strategic document for the next five-year period.
Bratić added that the uneven development of culture in the country was recognized as a priority problem.
"As a strategic goal, the implementation of which will be contributed to through the implementation of non-governmental sector projects, the uniform development of culture on the entire territory of Montenegro has been defined," said Bratić. As she stated, the Ministry also achieved significant successes at the international level.
Bratić, answering Vuković's question, said that the Ministry is familiar with the position of the Acting Director of the Agency for Control and Quality Assurance of Higher Education regarding the reaccreditation of the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature.
"He was referring to the interpretation of the reaccreditation institute and pointing to insufficient knowledge of this area by the employees of the Agency itself, because at the time of the reaccreditation of the Faculty, it had just been established," said Bratić.
As she said, the acting director of the Agency for Quality Control and Assurance of Higher Education did not dispute the faculty's accreditation.
"The existence of the Faculty is not in question, the obligations of the state towards that faculty have been settled, as well as the financial resources foreseen in the budget for the next year", added Bratić.
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