The metal structure on the southeastern walls of Ulcinj's Old Town, installed 14 years ago for the purpose of building a panoramic elevator, was removed two days ago.
President of the Municipality Omer Bajraktari he said that the removal of the illegal building was done by order of the municipal police.
"With this act, after 14 years, we are removing a construction that damaged the image of our Old Town, which was one of our priorities. Also, we are sending a strong message that today's local government wants to move away from previous policies and that we are ready to transform this city into a better place for all citizens", said Bajraktari to "Vijesta".
On the occasion of the removal of the structure, he also announced Ilir Lazorja, a former member of the NGO "Mogul", which protested against the construction of the elevator, and, as the organization claimed, attempts to break the law and damage the ambient integrity of the ancient fortress. He said that even then, almost 15 years ago, advocating respect for the law, "Mogul" publicly pointed out the illegal construction of an elevator in the Old Town and thus initiated the process of banning further works.
"If it had been built then, removing the elevator would not be possible today," said Lazorja to "Vijesta".
Owner of the Palace of Venice Gani Resulbegović, who set up the construction with the intention of investing significant funds for the construction of a panoramic elevator, said that it was a well-conceived project that was supported by eminent experts. He stated that the elevator would significantly contribute to the easier life of the locals, but also to a greater influx of tourists, bearing in mind the fact that Ulcinj's Old Town was built at a higher altitude than numerous other old towns on the Adriatic. He did not hide his disappointment.
"I am sorry that some did not understand my idea and the fact that the project was conceived as a public partnership with the Municipality almost from the beginning. If some people think that all this could have ruined the ambiance, despite the experts' assessment, let them take down the construction, regardless of the fact that it is mine. Gani Resulbegović has never been, nor will he be, against the interests of the city and the state," he told "Vijesta".
According to the project, the panoramic elevator would be 36 meters high and worth around 250 euros.
It is interesting that in 2015, among the eight submitted works in the international competition for the architectural and urban solution of Pristan, the Ulcinj firm "Ital design" of a well-known architect won Selim Resulbegović at the proposal of the jury, in which they are apart from the then president of the municipality Fatmira Đeka were also departmental secretary Mustafa Goran, architects Rifat Alihodzic, Fuad Mavrić, Zana Sarvan, Nikola Drakic, Suada Ismailaga, te Mirlinda Cena from Kosovo and Dunja Bilalgic from Bosnia, and the reporter Mehmet Tafica. Đeka's adviser in that job was the director of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage of Montenegro Lidija Ljesar.
The construction of the elevator was also strongly opposed by Forca, which was part of the ruling coalition with Fatmir Đeka's Democratic Party and URA. The leaders of that party believed that it was the devastation of the ancient walls. They also said that they will not support the Mayor of the Municipality, who is devastating the city with his decisions, and announced that if there is a solution for the elevator, they will withhold support from Đeka.
Đeka then annulled the decision of the ten-member commission he chaired for zone 3 where the construction of the elevator was planned and declared it null and void ex officio. This was followed by a complaint from the architect from Ulcinj to the State Commission, but the negative answer, as he said, came from the commission formed by the Municipality, signed by Gorana.
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