Kotor and Durmitor are not considered protected areas that are endangered, the Ministry of Culture and Media (MKM) announced.
The ministry said that Montenegro is participating in the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Riyadh as an observer, because, as they state, it is not a member of the Committee in this mandate.
"It is important to emphasize that both Montenegrin protected areas were discussed in the context of the point dedicated to the "State of conservation of goods inscribed on the World Heritage List". In addition to this category of the report, there is another category of the List of World Heritage in Danger. Neither the area of Kotor nor the area of Durmitor are considered protected areas that are endangered," the statement of the MKM reads
In the context of the Montenegrin protected areas of Kotor and Durmitor, it is added, the need to harmonize key planning and management documents for protected areas is apostrophized.
"Among numerous topics in the field of protection and preservation of world heritage, UNESCO's policies in endangered and war-affected areas will be considered, as well as reviewed reports on the measures implemented by UNESCO member states in order to ensure the standards accepted when registering properties on the World Heritage List," they state from Ministries.
As announced, the additional need for action was pointed out at the meeting in order to continue conservation activities in both areas in the best spirit of the reference Convention.
"In the context of the natural and cultural-historical area of Kotor, the need to harmonize the management plan with the Spatial Plan of the Municipality of Kotor was pointed out and a series of measures that - in the context of development and tourist offer - should be implemented in order to preserve it well. The state was recommended to extend the moratorium for construction, which would not be permanent, but until all planning documents are harmonized. The deadline has been set for February 1, 2024, for Montenegro to submit an appropriate report in which it will inform about the implemented measures," the Ministry's announcement reads.
It is added that in the context of the Durmitor National Park (NP), UNESCO experts reiterated the call that tourist complexes should not be built within the protected zone.
"They reiterated that the started infrastructure projects must be aligned with the guidelines and planning documents, but also that the state should pay special attention to several projects that are in the immediate vicinity and have an impact on the protected area," stated the MKM.
As they announced, a special warning was issued to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia in the context of the Buk Bijela hydroelectric power plant project, the construction of which directly threatens the UNESCO protected area in Montenegro.
"Both countries are invited to ensure the implementation of the project in accordance with all UNESCO standards and in cooperation with Montenegro," they said.
The Ministry also said that Montenegro was asked to submit updated information on the state of protection of Durmitor National Park by December 1, 2024.
"All this obliges us to systematically provide a quality response and create policies in accordance with expectations and UNESCO's recommendations," reads the statement of the Ministry of the Interior.
According to them, the UNESCO Report, as well as the public's focus on Kotor and Durmitor, represent a "good opportunity" to continue to complete, adopt and implement strategic documents with partners from the civil sector, the media, public administration and the academic and international community in the coming period. which, according to European standards, regulate the processes that they manage within the scope of their competence for UNESCO.
"Montenegro will be represented at the extended 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh by the permanent delegate of Montenegro to UNESCO, Ambassador Ivan Ivanisević," the relevant ministry said.
Bonus video:
