The Parliament adopted the Bill on the ratification of the agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on cooperation in tourism and real estate development.
The agreement was approved by 46 MPs, with ten against and four abstentions. The session on the two agreements with the UAE lasted more than 12 hours.
The minority party deputies except the Bosniak Party, as well as the Civic Movement URA and Social Democrat deputy Boris Mugoša voted against the agreement. The Democratic People's Party caucus abstained, while the rest of the opposition, including the Democratic Party of Socialists, did not attend.
The MPs did not accept the amendment of independent MP Jevrosima Pejović, which requested that the projects that would be implemented through this agreement not be treated as public interest.
MPs have completed their debate on the agreement with the United Arab Emirates, while parliamentary committees will submit the results of the vote on the amendments to MPs.
President Andrija Mandić explained that legally, if the Committee does not submit a report on the amendments of independent MP Jevrosima Pejović within the planned deadline, i.e. by midnight, the hearing can be held without that document.
"We will not wait for the report, but the president will inform us verbally here. That one amendment remains," he emphasized.
Pejović stated that she was appalled by the behavior of her colleagues and that she wanted the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Zdenka Popović (Democrats), to condemn the behavior of her parliamentary colleague Duško Stijepović in the Legislative Committee.
"This level of aggression and unprofessionalism is not appropriate for this great home. The behavior of the president of the parent committee is terrible and now I need to go back to that committee where the man threatened me and said I would face consequences. He told me that I was targeting someone, which is not true," said Pejović.
Stijepović stated that an attempt was made to impute something to him and that it was an attack on him, and that he had never called on citizens to spit. He said this in connection with the situation with independent MP Jevrosima Pejović, during which she accused him of threats.
"I just said, imagine, distinguished colleagues, that you are targeting 50 MPs in this House, that if we were the ones who called for you to spit on each other after every harmful decision that we also consider harmful - you would never walk down the street dry. That's what I said, that's not a threat," said Stijepović.
Pejović added that Stijepović was mistaken if he thought he could threaten her, and that everything was recorded on camera and that he almost beat her up.
Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić proposed that MPs vote on the agreement with the United Arab Emirates at midnight, and that parliamentary committees give their opinions on the amendment by the Special Group of MPs, Jevrosima Pejović, by then.
That proposal received the required majority.
Pejović stated that the vote on her amendment was rushed, and that the proposal to vote at midnight was scandalous and did not respect the Rules of Procedure or democracy. She emphasized that she was going to the Legislative Committee and that something similar had never happened before.
Albanian Alliance MP Ilir Čapuni once again requested that their interests as minority representatives be harmonized with the Government, and called on the Bosniak Party not to vote and for the parliamentary session to be suspended until interests are harmonized. Assembly Speaker Andrija Mandić reiterated that this request is not justified because the agreement does not concern any individual territory.
Čapuni stated that he submitted an amendment requesting that the project's implementation must receive the green light from the municipality on whose land the construction is planned. The MPs did not support this amendment to the agreement.
Čapuni also requested that the beaches remain available to citizens free of charge, regardless of the construction of the project, but this amendment was not adopted either.
Čapuni withdrew the amendment that demanded that part of the coast be given only through transparent procedures and reiterated that he wanted the session to be adjourned, and that he would discuss the threat to minorities at a meeting with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and representatives of the European Union. He repeated this request several times.
He also withdrew an amendment that required that public interest status for a project cannot be granted through an agreement. With the fifth amendment, he requested that property not be taken through an agreement without first paying fair compensation, but he also withdrew it and requested adjournment of the session.
Capuni's amendment, which requested that the opinion of the European Commission be sought for all steps in the construction of projects, also failed to receive the required majority.
He withdrew the amendment that demanded that the complete documentation on contracts and agreements with the United Arab Emirates be made public within seven days of their arrival. He insisted on adjourning the session.
The amendment by the Special Caucus MP Jevrosima Pejović also did not receive the green light.
Democratic People's Party (DNP) MP Milan Knežević explained that the third amendment refers to the fact that the expropriation of land belonging to religious communities requires the green light of that community. This amendment also did not receive support from MPs.
Knežević emphasized that the fourth amendment relates to transparency, that is, to know the origin of companies and those who participate in business with Montenegro. This amendment did not get the green light either.
Knežević stressed that the fifth amendment referred to the need to ban the participation of companies and those connected to former and current officials in order to prevent conflicts of interest and directly refers to the Đukanović family, but this amendment also did not receive support. He stressed that this was precisely why the deputies of the Democratic Party of Socialists walked out of the chamber, because they could not get the decision without the party's former leader, Milo Đukanović.
A proposal that would have excluded those who have been convicted or are facing criminal proceedings from participating in projects also did not receive support.
The MPs also did not vote for the DNP amendment that requested the specification of the word "initiation" in the agreement, because, as they claim, it is not legally precise in the Montenegrin version of the document.
Democratic People's Party MP Milan Knežević stated that they had submitted eight amendments, and that the first one refers to the fact that at least half of the value of the investments would be invested in the north, for the sake of balanced regional development. This amendment did not receive the green light from the MPs.
Knežević explained that the second amendment stipulates that at least one project be implemented in a municipality with a Serb majority population. He announced that he would make a decision on the other amendments depending on the vote on this issue.
This amendment also did not receive the support of the deputies.
The Europe Now Movement stated that these amendments are listed as reservations, which cannot be included in the agreement, and that these details should be discussed with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić because it is a legal issue.
Social Democrat MP Boris Mugoša disputed the fact that the vote was repeated because some MPs did not enter the chamber, or that no specific reason was given for the re-vote. He pointed out that he had received information that some MPs who were not present at the original vote participated in the re-vote.
Knežević added that Spajić was late with consultations on these issues, and that investor Muhamed Alabar never mentioned the north of Montenegro.
Democratic Union of Albanians MP Mehmed Zenka stated that Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović cannot respond to the request of minority MPs, that their interests, which he says are violated by this agreement, be agreed with the Government.
Adžović emphasized that she has the authority to respond to the request of minority deputies, and that the agreements do not target the city or municipality, so there is no basis for the request to be accepted.
Albanian Alliance MP Ilir Čapuni reiterated that they had requested additional coordination with the Government on the agreements because it threatened the rights of minorities, while Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić emphasized that no municipalities were mentioned and that Čapuni's request was inappropriate.
Čapuni requested the harmonization of interests with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, but that the European Union's representative in Montenegro, Johan Sattler, also attend the meeting.
MP from the Civic Movement URA, Dritan Abazović, stressed that Mandić is not competent to decide on this request, and that minority requests and laws cannot be ignored. The parliamentary group also said that minorities are not being given anything, but that they are legally entitled to it, and that it is enough for them to believe that their interests are threatened.
Mandić stressed that he would not give a break due to Čapuni's request, and stated that 25 amendments to this agreement had been submitted.
Europe Now Movement (PES) MP Drago Dragović stressed that minority MPs can discuss their interests with the Government. Bosniak Party MP Amer Smailović stressed that he believes that Čapunji's request is justified.
The MPs adopted the Bill on Ratifying the Agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Economic Cooperation.
The agreement was supported by 50 MPs, while ten were against.
The deputies did not give the green light to the amendment proposed by the Special Caucus of Jevrosima Pejović.
This agreement was not controversial in public, like the one relating to cooperation in tourism and real estate development.
Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić stated that the deputies will vote on the Bill on Ratifying the Agreement with the United Arab Emirates on Economic Cooperation, while the agreement on tourism and real estate development will be considered later.
Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović did not give the closing remarks for the discussion on the proposed agreements.
Mandić pointed out that the agreements do not mention Ulcinj or investors, and that he thinks these issues have been discussed sufficiently.
"We all heard what you said, what the government representative and Alabar said. We are a democratic country, one person cannot arrange everything through the government. I stand behind everything I said...", he emphasized.
Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Andrija Nikolić stated that a vote was being held on investments worth one billion euros, while Adžović did not respond to the MP's arguments.
The same was pointed out by the MP of the Civic Movement URA Miloš Konatar. His colleague Filip Adžić said that two requests were also sent from minority MPs, which also need to be declared, and that anything to the contrary points to potential demographic changes in the municipalities where the projects will be built.
Mandić emphasized that municipalities are not mentioned, and that investors will not come to those that are not interested.
Democratic Union of Albanians MP Medhmed Zenka stated that the story has changed several times in a month, and that the Government is being given imperial powers while claiming that municipalities will be able to choose. He claims that Adžović is mocking him, and that it is clear that Ulcinj is the target of investor Muhamed Alabar, although the opposite is claimed.
Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Jevto Eraković stressed that this was one of the biggest scams in Montenegrin history, and that the information the MPs received from Prime Minister Milojko Spajić was unreliable, and that better information was provided by a waiter in a Podgorica hotel. He pointed out that the United Arab Emirates did not know that they had signed a contract with a prime minister who made many promises and who fulfilled few, and that the agreement was another scam.
Croatian Civic Initiative MP Adrijan Vuksanović also warned that the law is being violated based on the Law on Minority Rights. Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Zdenka Popović stressed that she will forward this request to Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić.
DPS leader Danijel Živković added that the government is not capable of restoring Montenegro's investment credibility, and that there have been no investments in the past five years. He claims that the government is expanding public administration, destroying the real sector, and that there was no money in the treasury, which is why the recent debt of more than a billion euros was necessary.
"This government is a government of chaos, disorder and does not fulfill its promises. You have changed your communication strategy in the last month. The minister says that there will be no construction in any city that says it is not interested, imagine in every city they say we are not interested. What kind of authority is this of the state and the government? Will you all resign after this? People would lose their minds if they listened to your arguments every day," Živković stated, adding that the amount of the investment has already been changed several times, and that all these steps are scaring investors.
Europe Now Movement (PES) MP Darko Dragović stated that 90 percent of the things about the agreement that have been heard in recent days are not contained in the document and that it does not refer to any of the projects or investors. He claims that the Government of Montenegro must approve the investor chosen by the United Arab Emirates, and that the investment contract must be approved by the Parliament and must be in line with the needs of the population.
"The agreement states that the agreement will not affect obligations from other signed contracts, and every natural or legal person has the right to enjoy personal property," he said.
Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Ivan Vuković asked why Muhamed Alabar was mentioned, if it is not known who the investor is, and why the Prime Minister is mentioning Ulcinj and the airports and universities in that municipality, if the specific location is not known.
Dragović emphasized that the agreement is the basis for a contract with the investor, and that they will discuss the details of that document.
Albanian Alliance MP Ilir Čapuni stated that they tried to dissuade them from adopting the agreement, so he referred to Article 29 of the Law on Minority Rights, that is, if MPs believe that a regulation infringes on the rights of minorities, they can request that the proponent agree on their positions, so he called for the sessions to be suspended and negotiations with the Government to begin.
"It is prohibited to undertake measures that would change the population structure in areas inhabited by members of minority peoples and communities. I refer to...", said Čapuni, but his microphone was turned off, after which the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Zdenka Popović explained that the agreement did not concern her city and that the rights of minority peoples were not being discussed.
Čapuni repeated that he was referring to this article and requested an adjournment of the session.
Bosniak Party MP Mirsad Nurković told citizens in northern Montenegro that after decades, a chance has arisen for the region to receive a major investment. Nurković said that this is a chance for Bjelasica, Berane, Rožaje and Hajla, and that he expects someone to say whether the agreement is in accordance with the Constitution and laws, and ultimately for the courts to decide on these issues.
He emphasized that the Bosniak Party will not support any project that is not approved by the municipality in whose area it is planned, and that there are no guarantees that the investment will even take place.
"This agreement neither gives nor takes away anything. If the Government does not make an agreement in the interest of the local and state community, I believe that we will be responsible for stopping such an agreement. Almost all the presidents of all municipalities are interested in this agreement. Do not think that any of us is less of a friend to the people of Ulcinj than those who are against the agreement," Nurković emphasized, adding that targets are being drawn for the Bosniak Party deputies and that this is being done by short-term portals.
Democratic Party of Socialists MP Ivan Vuković pointed out that there can be no appeals from citizens tomorrow, because they will not have the right to do so in court.
The Civic Movement URA asked where the government with 30 representatives was and why they left the Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović alone to defend the agreements, but also whether Prime Minister Milojko Spajić could be trusted after all. They pointed out that everyone is well-intentioned for investments, but not through controversial agreements.
Europe Now Movement (PES) MP Miloš Pižurica stated that the Government and the parliamentary majority want to discuss this agreement, and that the NGO sector has also been given the opportunity to express its opinions. He reiterated that citizens' property will not be confiscated and that the state will cooperate with the investor, and will not cede jurisdiction to him.
Democratic Party of Socialists MP Ivan Vuković added that the agreement applies to the south of the country and ski resorts in the north, so citizens cannot hope for the valorization of Đalovića Cave and other similar projects.
"This is an attempt at armed robbery of state property. The government, supported by the votes of the parliamentary majority, intends to give someone land worth 20 billion euros and 20 million square meters, prepare planning documentation, clear the property of that area, and resolve the expropriation based on public interest. Based on public interest, which is declared on the basis of communication with the investor, the government will enter private property," he said, adding that the government will then bring electricity, water, and sewage to this location, and that this will cost hundreds of millions of euros.
Vuković added that apartments would then be built on those plots, and said that it was questionable what Montenegro, which wants to join the European Union, was doing. He asked why investors from Germany, France or Spain were not sought, and whether Montenegro would eventually be able to close Chapter 27.
The deputies continued their discussion on the Bill on Ratifying the Agreement between Montenegro and the United Arab Emirates on Cooperation in Tourism and Real Estate Development.
Europe Now (PES) MP Jelena Nedović said that various accusations could be heard regarding the agreement, but that no one is considering what happens if their plan to attract investment to Montenegro succeeds. She emphasized that the institutional process is more transparent and that the document was on the government's website for several days, while the NGO sector was allowed to discuss the issue, so she believes that everything was done transparently.
Civic Movement URA MP Ana Novaković Đurović asked Public Works Minister Majda Adžović if she had read the Spatial Plan, because the official document states that apartments must not be the subject of development in the Ulcinj area. She pointed out that coastal municipalities are subject to seismic risk in the future, and that everything should have been discussed in detail earlier.
"The same document that you have not read, it lists 30 more locations that are candidates for "Emerald" areas. If you had read it, you would not have been able to propose an agreement that, in addition to being contrary to the Constitution and laws, violates all the provisions of this document and all planning documentation and prevents our European path," she pointed out, adding that the European path is absolutely hindered by this agreement, through a violation of the directive.
The Parliament has stopped the debate on the Bill on the ratification of the agreement between Montenegro and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on tourism and real estate development, until the Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović returns to the parliamentary hall.
The break was given by the Speaker of the Assembly, Andrija Mandić.
Democratic Party of Socialists MP Oskar Huter asked in whose interest the suspension of the law is planned, why a public debate was avoided, and asked what will happen after 90 years, that is, what is the guarantee for the projects.
New Serbian Democracy (NSD) MP Vaso Obradović stressed that a lot of time has been spent and that he believes that the agreements open the door to investments from the UAE. He reiterated that there are no specific projects in the documents and that municipalities will have the opportunity to offer them, which, he says, is especially valuable for the north due to infrastructure and additional employment...
He stressed that the NSD parliamentary group would support the agreement.
The Civic Movement MP URA requested a break until Adžović joined the parliamentary session.
Europe Now Movement MP Vasilije Čarapić stated that they had already reviewed the Brskovo mine project and ultimately terminated the contract, that it was similar for the "Northstar" project on Luštica, and that they would cooperate with credible investors, namely the United Arab Emirates - so that this would not happen again.
He pointed out that they do not want to cooperate with investors from the previous period, because they sold off assets and proved to be the worst, so they will not support any contract that could cause something similar to happen again.
"I understand that there have been some noises in the communication of these agreements, and the people from the government who went to Ulcinj are partly responsible for that. Here we have an agreement that is not limited to Ulcinj, and if we opened the Ulcinj story, we would have something to see. We would have to see that all previous governments had a plan for megalomaniac projects in Ulcinj, such as the one adopted by the Milo Đukanović government. According to that plan, which is valid, someone in Ulcinj can build four 11-story skyscrapers," said Čarapić, adding that there are several such modules for Velika Plaža.
He emphasized that he hopes that this year a company will be formed by which the Government and the Municipality of Ulcinj will manage the Ulcinj Saltworks.
Democratic Party of Socialists MP Andrija Nikolić stressed that Čarapić had already tried to exclude the Parliament from making decisions about valuable state property, and that this had all the hallmarks of corruption, although he said he withdrew the proposed amendments after public reaction.
Čarapić stressed that there are numerous examples of corruption from the DPS government period, and that they do not want these projects to be repeated. Several DPS MPs pointed out that such unfounded comments violate the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament.
Democratic MP Nikola Rovčanin said that he would like the north of Montenegro to be the central area for investments, and that it is not easy to attract foreign investors and capital. He emphasized that he believes that the Government should listen to and respect everything that state institutions say.
MP Ćinćur from the Special Workers' Party stated that she thought the time for confiscating citizens' property had passed, and that she feared that private land would also be endangered under the guise of public interests.
The head of the Albanian Forum parliamentary group said that he would not support the agreements and asked where everyone interested in Ulcinj was when companies in Ulcinj were closed, hotels were demolished, Valdanos was attacked, and the municipality was robbed through numerous controversial court decisions...
He emphasized that it is difficult to assess the motives that led to this situation.
Social Democrat MP Boris Mugoša stated that, according to his knowledge, senior officials of the Europe Now Movement (PES) are behind the bot profiles on social networks from which there have been online attacks in recent days, and that he is calling for the dialogue to be conducted in a civilized manner.
Albanian Alliance MP Ilir Čapuni said that today's vote is against the interests of citizens, and that trust in the Government is being destroyed, as well as that the principles of decentralization are not respected because the opinions of municipalities are not taken into account. He claims that there were no consultations with state institutions, while MPs are entering the parliament through the back door due to citizen protests.
"Individuals who bear key responsibility, including the Prime Minister, are the main culprits who are pushing the agreement beyond the interests of citizens and dialogue, without the possibility of talks. The whole of Montenegro is protesting against haste, clumsiness and lack of transparency...", stated Čapuni, emphasizing that the country's European perspective is also being jeopardized, and that embarrassment will result if it is carried to the end.
Democratic Union of Albanians MP Mehmed Zenka added that they would vote for the agreement on economic cooperation, but the problem is the development of tourism and real estate. He claims that it devalues the Constitution and gives the Government imperial powers, while citizens are left without the possibility of appealing. He states that investor Muhamed Alabar visited Ulcinj and that his associates are doing so today, and he stated that the document was incorrectly translated from English to Montenegrin.
"That contract in English is valid. Who will convince me that you didn't have a translator in the government? You are giving away land, you are not selling land. Why aren't you helping our people?" he said, adding that Alabar wanted to negotiate with citizens about the land, and that he was told that the government would complete that part of the work.
Democratic People's Party MP Milan Knežević stressed that in all important decisions in the Parliament, ancestors and their wisdom are mentioned and invoked, and that they might hum the song "Unfurl the banner of Alabara, from the heroic old house". He added that he would like the Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović to convince him of the agreement and projects, as well as to explain why there was no public debate, whether the document is in accordance with the Constitution, what is public interest, whether public competition, procurement and tenders are being completely bypassed...
"It remains very problematic whether it will go through public procurement and where the state will not be obliged to announce public tenders for reconstruction, construction of infrastructure such as roads, networks, sewage... I do not feel sorry for Alabar, I feel sorry for Montenegro and myself. I am interested in the interests of Montenegro and whether all procedures will be bypassed. Is this in line with EU regulations, because from what I have managed to compare - it is legally incompatible with the Stabilization and Association Agreement because its provisions enable exclusive arrangements beyond legal and market mechanisms, which is not allowed," Knežević emphasized.
He claims that few EU countries have such an agreement, and that it is also problematic how control and arbitration will be implemented, given that this is not included in the agreement.
Social Democrat MP Boris Mugoša stated that the agreement stipulates that land can be seized on the basis of a determined public interest, and that there is no clear procedure in case of a dispute. He added that the existing agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) already provides for a tender procedure and that it is not clear why the provisions are being changed.
"The state gives everything and has ten obligations, the other has none. And then you tell us that this is in accordance with the Constitution. Articles 139 and 140 of the Constitution are violated. Do you understand what you are doing? We are not against investments, but we are for the state, I would like to know who the author is. Where is the opinion of the Protector of Property and Legal Interests of the State," he pointed out, adding that the agreement is controversial on every point, and that even the UAE has not signed them in this form so far.
Bonus video:
