The Public Enterprise National Parks of Montenegro (NPCG) reacted to Miodrag Kalezić's allegations that free tickets were promised for the residents of Mojkovac. They said that at the meeting, which was held on April 27, "the introduction of free tickets was considered."
However, as Kalezić claims, that "promise" was not fulfilled, so they decided on one-hour blockades every Saturday, from 10 am to 11 am.
Below we present the reaction of JP NPCG in its entirety:
"The public enterprise for the national parks of Montenegro, in accordance with its possibilities, has always been open to cooperation with all target groups, especially local communities that gravitate to the spaces of protected areas," the announcement states.
They add that they are convinced that the actions of a group of citizens, such as blocking the road to Biogradska gora National Park, initiated by Miodrag Kalezić from Mojkovac, are "hasty and thoughtless".
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They remind that 27.4.2023. in the premises of the Public Enterprise for National Parks of Montenegro, a meeting was held with the representative of the signatory of the petition for free entrance to the NP Biogradska gora for the residents of Mojkovac, Miodrag Kalezić.
"At the mentioned meeting, there was talk about the relocation of tourist vehicles, as well as the consideration of possible possibilities for free entry of the citizens of Mojkovac into the Biogradska gora National Park. We note that Kalezić was engaged in the previous period, for more than a year, in the Biogradska gora National Park under the Agreement on temporary and occasional jobs and received compensation as a driver of a promotional train, as well as that the Police had to react in order to take over the promotional train from Kalezić, who was given it for safekeeping," the NPCG press release states.
They add that Kalezić, a former colleague who drove vehicles, whose wife is also employed in the park, stays with his family for free in this national park.
"Keeping in mind that the traffic commission gave a negative opinion regarding the use of the promotional train in this protected area due to, among other things, the ascent on certain sections, the decision on their use will be made by the competent entities in the coming period," NPCG said.
By purchasing a ticket, the announcement adds, all visitors contribute to the protection, preservation and promotion of the most important values of the National Park.
"According to the Law on National Parks, Article 21, it is defined that entrance fees to the Park are not paid by natural persons who live or own real estate in the Park and members of their immediate family. In order for almost all target groups to be able to visit the National Park, the Decision on the height The JPNPCG fee is defined as free entrance to all national parks for children up to 15 years of age, and free entrance for announced groups of students of the Department of Biology, as well as reduced ticket prices by 50 percent for pre-announced groups of hikers, students, and trade unionists. organization," the press release states.
It is also added that the annual ticket at the price of 13,50 euros guarantees the right to an unlimited number of entries to all five national parks until the end of the calendar year.
"We believe that a really large number of benefits provided by the National Parks of Montenegro are defined in this way so that all target groups have the opportunity to visit protected areas," the NPCG states.
Nature lovers from the municipalities that gravitate to the park, they say, have already bought annual tickets at an extremely reasonable price of 13,50 euros.
"In Biogradska gora National Park, physical and professional protection activities are continuously and synchronously carried out in order to preserve the entire area of Biogradska gora National Park. The main activities of the Protection Service are aimed at preventing illegal use of the park's natural resources, such as forest cutting, illegal construction, illegal hunting and fishing, etc. The protection is carried out continuously - 24 hours a day, with the supervisors recording every day all the events in the area of the park, with special involvement in its border areas," the statement added.
It is undeniable that there are always challenges, they said from NPCG, and even more so that they must be solved in the common interest of all parties involved, and above all with the aim of protecting and preserving national parks.
"We ask the representatives of the group of citizens who blocked the road to Biogradska gora National Park to stop doing so because they are illegally preventing the possibility for all other visitors, who are in a much greater number, to visit and stay in Biogradska Gora National Park," the NPCG said in a statement.
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