Prime Minister Milojko Spajić has scheduled a meeting for 14 p.m., the agenda of which will include Sveti Stefan, and to which representatives of the Municipality of Budva have also been invited.
This was stated by the President of the Municipality of Budva, Nikola Jovanović, to the residents of this elite tourist resort, who symbolically gathered at 5:12 to XNUMX:XNUMX for a peaceful rally in front of the Budva Municipality building, dissatisfied that the city hotel has been closed for the fourth year, and the Government is hiding what it plans to negotiate with the tenant, the company "Adritic Properties", regarding the fate of the hotel complex.
"We welcome the efforts to find a solution for the city hotel 'Sveti Stefan' and the possible operation of the hotel, but that the process be conducted transparently, respecting the interests of the local community. It is important that every agreement is based on the law and protects the public good. We are prohibited by the information about the closure of the pedestrian path despite the final ruling of the Administrative Court, as well as the fact that the consequences of illegal construction have not yet been remedied. I believe that it is in the interest of all of us to find a sustainable solution that will enable the operation of the hotel, but also preserve the rights of the local community's heritage," read out the residents' requests, the vice president of the Local Community "Sveti Stefan" Slobodanka Boba Kentera.
As she emphasized, they believe that Sveti Stefan and its surroundings must be open to local residents and visitors, who will contribute to the development of tourism in that local community.
"Therefore, we propose that a museum, a national cuisine restaurant, a wine bar and similar facilities be opened within the complex that will enrich the tourist offer and benefit the entire local community. Therefore, we propose that the agreement be submitted to us for review before adoption, that the Minister of Economic Development Nik Đeljošaj explain what has changed compared to last year when the termination of the contract with the tenant was proposed. That the negotiators confirm that the tenant can only be guaranteed what is in accordance with the law and the prescribed contract. I believe that through joint dialogue we can reach a solution that will bring long-term benefits to the hotel and the local community and raise the level of tourism," she stressed.
The locals then called on the Mayor Nikola Jovanović and the President of the Municipal Assembly Petar Odžić to come out and join the crowd and show their support. While the rally was taking place, a session of the local parliament was being held in the Municipal Assembly Hall, and the letter with the residents' demands was read out at the session by the councilor of the Civic Movement URA, Živana Mudreša.
A discussion followed at the parliamentary session, during which Jovanović said that he had received an invitation from Prime Minister Spajić to come to the Government at 14 p.m., but that he was not told what the topic of the meeting would be, except that it was about Sveti Stefan.
DPS councilor Saša Samardžić, who is employed by the company "Sveti Stefan Hotels", which owns the city hotel, stated that the company had contacted the prime minister and relevant ministers and had never received a response.
"Arbitration and the fate of our society are at risk. Our very survival is in question. It is frivolous that after so much time, the prime minister calls two hours before a meeting about such important topics," said Samardžić.
Then Jovanović left the assembly session and joined the crowd gathered in front of the building. The locals thanked him.
"We are neither on the side of investors, nor are we on the side of private interests or anyone else. I am not interested in private interests coming from any side at all. I was invited to a meeting at 14 p.m., as a shortcut, we have a session of the Municipal Assembly. We will send our representative, it will be the chief administrator Nevenka Božović Jovović, I did not know who would be at the meeting, the topic is Sveti Stefan. Will some modality of solution be offered, it came like a bolt from the blue, but okay. It is better for the Municipality of Budva to have a representative so that we know what it is about. What our communication was to the governments and relevant ministries was that a compromise must be found between the local population and investors based on the principle of public interest and nothing else. Public interest is number one. There is no politics here, three governments have passed, here we have another one, why should we wait for ten more. It is not good for that site to remain closed, it is not good for the tourist offer, nor for the place. I am in favor of finding an interest, respecting both sides without endangering either one. "I think that is possible, the Municipality is willing to be constructive," said Jovanović.
He promised that after the meeting in Podgorica, a meeting with the locals would be held, where they would be informed of what was agreed in Podgorica.
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