The NGO group Sjevera once again called on the Minister of Ecology, Damjan Ćulafić, to "review and cancel" the decision on the selection of eco-ambassadors because, as they claim, they have irrefutable evidence and facts, that the entire selection and appointment process was full of numerous irregularities and the commission grossly violated the applicable legal provisions.
They called on Ćulafić to apologize to the citizens and the ecological civil sector.
"The Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North recently made a scandalous decision on the selection and appointment of an eco ambassador for 2024, with the award of a cash prize of five thousand euros. After our public address, we call on Minister Damjan Ćulafić to urgently cancel this decision and to restart the election process in a legal, transparent, impartial and objective manner, valuing real environmental results and achievements, not political suitability, the minister announced and reacted, claiming that the election was open and transparent. He stated: "The claims of the NGO Network of the North" that demand the cancellation of the invitation and the initiation of a new one are not based on the facts. The process was completely open and carried out in accordance with the principles of expertise sustainability, without any political bias'. Given that we have irrefutable evidence and facts, that the entire process of choosing and appointing eco ambassadors was full of numerous irregularities, and the commission grossly violated valid legal provisions, we ask that the entire procedure be reviewed and annulled, and that the minister apologize for everything to the citizens and the ecological civil sector," states the reaction of the Network of the North signed by Darko Stijepović.
They remind that "the current legal regulations of the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations, more specifically its Article 32b, provide that the distribution of funds can be made exclusively to non-governmental organizations, not to individuals".
"Then how is it possible that the Ministry distributed funds to natural persons - Eco ambassadors, when the law does not provide for it? Further, in accordance with the Regulation on the election of representatives of non-governmental organizations to the working bodies of state administration bodies and the implementation of public hearings in the preparation of laws and strategies, Article 7 clearly mandates that non-governmental organizations, when submitting candidates, must attach a statement that the candidate is not a member of a political party, a public official , a manager or civil servant, that is, an employee. However, it is obvious that the Commission of the Ministry grossly violated this provision, because among the appointed eco-ambassadors, at least three are public officials and civil servants and employees, some of whom are even members of political party management bodies, presidents of councils and the like, or members commissions did not even check these facts? This procedure not only calls into question the seriousness and respect for the law, but also the very purpose and integrity of the eco-ambassador selection process," the reaction reads.
The NGO Network of the North asks "how is it possible that such candidates, who obviously did not meet the basic legal requirements, find themselves on the list of candidates".
"Is it possible that the commission was not aware of those violations or were the omissions made knowingly and with intent? The NGO Network of the North, in order to protect legality and public interest, would like to draw attention to the fact that if the Ministry turns a deaf ear to the warning that we sent them in good faith and pointed out these serious omissions and violation of regulations, and do not cancel this scandalous election, we will be forced to file a criminal complaint with the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, and to initiate an administrative dispute before the Administrative by the court of Montenegro. This is about the classic criminal acts of abuse of official position, negligent work in the service and enabling the acquisition of illegal property benefits for oneself or others, and possibly the criminal offense of influence peddling. This scandal requires an immediate reaction and responsibility, so we call on the minister again of ecology to immediately cancel this unacceptable choice of eco-ambassador and to stop the further damage this process has already caused to the reputation of the Ministry and the entire system serious omissions and to take appropriate measures to prevent future similar cases," the response reads.
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They add that the choice of eco-ambassadors has become a scam that is not based on expertise and objectivity, but has become a tool for political and interest manipulation.
"This process should be stopped immediately, and the culprits of such an election should be called to account, because it is obvious that they do not know how to read the current legal regulations, nor how to apply them. Therefore, we once again call on Minister Damjan Ćulafić to immediately cancel this decision and to initiate the investigation process, and to inform the public and citizens, how such a scandalous omission occurred and who is responsible for it and the appointment of Eco Ambassadors by the selection committee of this Ministry. One of the chosen and appointed Eco Ambassadors, Alen Suljević, is a public official, he is an official in the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, more precisely in the Secretariat for Rural Development, and he is also an activist of the Bosniak Party. and a member of the Municipal Committee of the Bosniak Party. In the Secretariat for Housing, Communal Affairs, Traffic and Water, the President of the Pljevlja Radio Television Council, the President of the Golobinja Local Community, was a member of at least two political parties, which he allegedly left. In addition, he is also the founder of several local non-governmental organizations, which in this case gave him support, that is, proposed him", it is stated in the reaction of the NGO Network of the North.
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