The Ministry of Defense supported the initiative of the Municipality of Budva for the protection of the military complex in the Skočiđevojka location, and the stopping of any works, but also provided information for the valorization of that location.
Chief city architect Jelena Lazic she told "Vijesti" that the Municipality submitted the Initiative for the urgent establishment of the prior protection of the military complex - coastal artillery battery "Skočiđevojka" as a cultural property to the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Property of Montenegro.
"As there is a risk of destruction of potential cultural property by the construction of buildings at the mentioned location, and as it is a very valuable complex of underground and above-ground bunkers and military facilities and as they form an inseparable whole, the Municipality of Budva turned to the Ministry for support and supplementing the documentation, among others of defense. Also, the initiative and letter to stop any further actions in the sense of giving consent for the construction of the building on the mentioned site was also sent to the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property - the Minister Janko Odović and the chief state architect Sinisa Minic, from which no response was received. Support was also requested from the Ministry of Culture and the Media, which also did not provide a response," Lazić pointed out.
According to her, the Ministry of Defense supported the initiative on June 25, all with the aim of preserving the historical heritage of Montenegro.
"On July 4, the Office of the Chief City Architect of the Municipality of Budva received the Information - potential for the valorization of Skočiđevojka from the Ministry of Defense, which, among other things, states the multiple importance of the said location. "The historical and touristic importance was mentioned with the assessment of the complex as a huge potential for tourism valorization with examples of the protection of such complexes in the surrounding countries," she said.
In the information of the department he heads Dragan Krapović the archaeological and cultural significance of the site is also indicated.
"The scientific research vessel 'Hercules' from the USA with a crew led by the director of the RPM Nautical Foundation from Florida and a world-renowned archaeologist Geoffrey Royal, carried out detailed research at that location as well. In the zone between Cape Skočiđevojka and Cape Crni, underwater archaeological traces of probably ancient trade routes with great archaeological potential were discovered. Additionally, during the First World War in 1914-1918, the Austro-Hungarian, French and other fleets operated, and it is to be expected that the remains of ships sunk in skirmishes are found at the location," emphasized Lazić.
According to her, the strategic importance of Skočiđevojka was indicated.
"From the location of Skočiđevojka, it is possible to protect and control an important maritime route on the Adriatic Sea. Thought from a strategic level, and based on the Defense Strategy of Montenegro and the National Security Strategy of Montenegro, regardless of whose ownership the country is, it is important that these important defense-strategic points remain accessible and possible for use. We should not ignore the fact that Montenegro is part of the NATO system, from which certain obligations and strategic considerations arise. The symbolic importance of this location - the eventual planned execution of infrastructure works at that location would lead to a complete collapse of the ambient unity, which would be in contradiction with the policy of EU member states that protect their coast and natural resources and promote environmental protection. In the Information, the Ministry of Defense concludes that it is necessary to stop all activities on the site, in order to adequately look at the mentioned aspects. We should not reject a priori the possibility of forming an expert group or an expert commission, which would be composed of experts from the fields of culture, history, archeology, defense and other fields, at the national and international level, who would look at and consider the mentioned aspects and give their opinion. professional expertise", emphasized Lazić.
As he concludes, based on his legal obligation, and in terms of the submitted Initiative, the Municipality of Budva will initiate urgent meetings with the competent state institutions.
"The municipality of Budva will strive to preserve such a valuable archaeological site, which, in addition to above-ground and underground military bunkers, also has a very valuable and internationally important underwater archaeological site in its complex," concludes Lazić.
In addition to the Municipality, the Local Community "Reževići" is opposed to the construction of a large complex in that locality.
Bonus video:
