The possible stoppage of investments in the Mojkovac ski resort is harmful in many ways, it is a missed opportunity for that municipality, but also the loss of significant capital invested so far.
This was announced by the Tourist Organization (TO) of Mojkovac regarding the plans of the Ski Resort of Montenegro (SCG) to place the cable car, which by the Government's decision is intended to connect the ski centers of Mojkovac and Bjelopolje, to Kolasin.
Those plans, as claimed by TO, "besides being unfair, disrupt the long-term plans and investments of Mojkovac".
The TO announcement came after the text published in "Vijesti", in which parts of the letter sent by SCG to the line ministry, which refers to the expansion of the Ski Center Kolašin 1600 towards Andrijevica and Berane, were quoted. In that letter, there was no mention of further investments in the started ski resorts on the Mojkovac and Bjelapolje side of Bjelasica. Those two ski centers are also an integral part of SCG.
"The construction of the ski center Žarski is the future of the development of Mojkovac as a tourist destination and represents the backbone of the economic and economic development of the municipality. The northwestern part of Bjelasica, which belongs to the municipality of Mojkovac, has the greatest potential for the development of ski tourism. Ski resort Žarski is included in the Special Purpose Spatial Plan (SPPN) "Bjelasica and Komovi". Its construction began in 2020 and we note that significant funds have been invested. "We are of the opinion that stopping investments at the expense of other areas is not only unfair and represents a missed opportunity for the development of Mojkovac, but also a loss of invested capital worth several million euros," TO announced.
They explain that "it is important to make decisions that are in the interest of the long-term development of the entire country, taking into account the resources already invested". The TO reminds that "by connecting the ski center Žarski, on Mojkovac and the ski center Cmiljač on the Bjelasica side of Bjelasica, 14 cable cars and ski lifts, and 60 kilometers of ski trails will be obtained".
"However, the SCG plan that was sent to the Minister of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North Vladimir Martinović is for another municipality to get a cable car, at the expense of the citizens of Mojkovac and Bijelo Polje. Redirecting already planned infrastructure to another city disrupts long-term plans and investments in our municipality. This further emphasizes the need for a transparent decision-making process to ensure that the interests of all involved parties are adequately taken into account," said the Mojkovac TO.
They remind that SCG is a public company, which has the responsibility to make decisions that are in the interest of society as a whole, and not only of individual local communities. TO claims that "playing with invested state money and favoring only one local community, to the detriment of others, is not in accordance with the principles of transparency, fairness and balanced development".
"We are looking forward to the construction of the cable car on Jelovica, as well as additional investments in the Ski Center Kolašin 1600, but not at the expense of the development of the future centers of Žarski and Cmiljača. It is important that public companies work in the interest of all citizens and that the procedures are in accordance with the law and the principles of fairness... We invite SCG to reconsider their plans and not to exclude Mojkovac from the strategy of developing ski destinations. Tourism should be inclusive and make maximum use of all the potentials that Montenegro has", TO announced.
They expect that "the state will take steps as soon as possible to ensure the completion of the work on the ski center in Mojkovac and use the invested resources and thus contribute to the development of the city and the north of Montenegro." They invited the Prime Minister from TO Milojko Sajić to visit Mojkovac and, as they say, see firsthand the state of works at the ski center and the potential that the area offers. This, they explain, "will be a key step towards securing the support and attention that Mojkovac deserves".
Ašanin: It is clear whose interests are in the interest of such plans of the Ski Resort
The Vice President of the Municipality, Ivan Ašanin, reacted to SCG's plans for the expansion of the state ski resort. He called on Minister Vladimir Martinović to sign the documentation, which, according to Ašanin, is necessary for the Capital Projects Administration to begin the implementation of the merger of the Žarski and Cmiljača ski centers.
"Do not, like your predecessor, sweep this most important project for Mojkovac and Bijelo Polje under the carpet. I don't think you intend to think localistically, like some of your fellow citizens. I am convinced that you understand that Žarski, Cmiljača and Hajla are part of SCG", Ašanin told the minister.
He reminds of everything that has been done so far at the Mojkovac and Bjelopolje ski resorts, as well as the projects whose implementation has started or should start, and are related to the infrastructure in Žarski and Cmiljača. Ašanin, who was also a member of the SCG board of directors, explains that the Mojkovac and Bjelopolje ski resorts are positioned in such a way "to guarantee the extension of the ski season by 15 to 20 days".
"We will not allow the Government's decision to be changed and we will not allow 50 million euros to go to scrap metal. Ski resorts in Mojkovac and Bijelo Polje will open and that's for sure. The dynamics do not depend on us, but, as I said before: The government that does not open those ski resorts in the 2025/2026 season. they will not have the trust of those two municipalities and the north of Montenegro," Ašanin announced.
He says that the cable car, intended to connect the ski resorts of Žarki and Cmiljača, will be installed at that location. As he claims, the reasons why SCG's plans are different are clear, as, he says, "it is clear whose private interest they are in".
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