Experts from the organization Europa Nostra from Brussels and the Institute of the European Investment Bank from Luxembourg who came to visit the site of the cultural landscape of St. Stefan and Miločer were delighted with the beauty of the site, but "expressed regret" about the devastation of the area, the threats that exist in terms of the demolition of existing buildings, such as and due to the fact that Miločerski Park is not yet protected as a cultural asset.
They came to the mission on the occasion of the program "7 Most Endangered" (7 Most Endangered), which is funded by the EU, and within which the Cultural Landscape of St. Stephen (including Miločerski Park) was chosen among the seven most endangered European heritage sites for 2023.
European experts were hosted by representatives of the Bankada Foundation and the Initiative for the return of St. Stephen's to state ownership.
"They saw a huge building at the entrance to Miločerski Park, the old royal villas in the park (five of them) which are threatened with demolition according to the valid planning documentation, the summer stage in the contact zone of St. Stephen which is also threatened with demolition," the Foundation and Initiative said in a statement.
The experts, as they pointed out, failed to enter the island of Sveti Stefan because there was a padlock on the entrance gate, and there were no guards to provide more information.
"Experts had meetings with officials and representatives of institutions, to whom a strong message was conveyed that Sveti Stefan and Miločer represent the cultural and natural treasures of Montenegro that must be preserved, that the Miločer Park must be protected as a cultural asset, that the Faro Convention must be respected, applicable laws and basic human rights. Based on the established situation on the ground, Evropa Nostra and the EIB Institute will prepare a report that will contain a detailed analysis of all the details found on the ground, the relationship of Montenegrin institutions to the cultural heritage in the locality, as well as the wider context, in the context of the process of Montenegro's accession to the EU ", pointed out the representatives of local associations.
They emphasize that the report will also contain guidelines and recommendations for removing threats, mitigating the damage done, as well as possible recommendations in terms of the revitalization of the locality based on the principle of sustainable development, which should be based on the promotion of cultural heritage, not on its destruction.
"The report will be publicly published and available to everyone, and it will also be handed over to individual EU institutions for review. It is also important to point out that, during the tour of the locality, the experts were pointed out to the nearby locations in the hinterland where the Brajići wind farm project is planned, during which they also expressed concern and pointed out that such a project could threaten the cultural landscape of Sveti Stefan and Miločer", the representatives conclude. The Bankada Foundation and the Initiative for the return of St. Stephen's to state ownership.
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