The transmission lines pass through the strictly protected area of Durmitor and Emerald areas of Lovćen and the rivers Komarnica, Tara, and Ćehotina. The project worth 106 million is also questionable economically after the Italians halved the submarine cable

The 400-kilovolt transmission line, which should link the south with the north of Montenegro, as a continuation of the undersea power interconnector of the Italian company TERNA, will irreversibly endanger nature in the Lovćen and Durmitor national parks and cause significant damage to the rivers of Komarnica, Tara and Ćehotina.

Despite warnings that the transmission line could go another route or underground through the parks, the authorities did not care enough about the environmental damage, but opted for the shortest alternative, in order to save 16 million euros. Thus, parts of national parks will be cut off, plant and animal species endangered, and the landscapes due to which these areas have been inscribed on the UNESCO list destroyed.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Study for the Čevo - Pljevlja corridor, conducted by “Liming project” bureau owned by Željko Asanović, states that forest habitats will suffer more damage due to fragmentation along the entire route, while non-forest habitats where transmission lines are installed will be irretrievably destroyed. The study specifies that, in addition to the territory of the Durmitor National Park, the transmission line route will have a direct impact on two Emerald sites - Komarnica and Ćehotina.

"The construction of the transmission line will destroy smaller areas of NATURA 2000 habitats in the Komarnica canyon, Sinjajevina, and the Ćehotina valley. There are no rare habitats among them in Montenegro,” it is stated in the study, which the Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG) received from the Environmental Protection Agency. Apart from the canyons of the Komarnica and Tara, as it is pointed out, transmission lines pose a special threat to birds of prey through collision with electric vires during the capture of prey. However, the authors of the study believe that, given the narrow space of the route, "the survival of any species will not be called into question."

Emerald is an ecological network made up of areas of special conversation interest. It operates in parallel with the Natura 2000 program in the European Union.

Energy experts are also questioning the economic viability of this transmission line and the investment of 106 million euros, because the submarine cable was ceremoniously put into operation on November 15 last year, only half of the announced capacity, 600 instead of 1,200 megawatts. That is why the transmission of electricity is performed without any problems by the existing network of transmission lines.

Savings was the main goal for the creditors as well. A document from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which provided a 60 million euro worth loan to the Montenegrin Electrical Transmission System (MNE: CGES) for the 106 million euro worth project, points out that one corridor solution avoiding both national parks was analyzed in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) in which the Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG) had an insight to.

"This corridor would be over 200 km long compared to the proposed 152.5 km corridor, and longer for about 50 km . This would raise costs by about 16,000,000 EUR, or about 27 percent. This alternative was not considered economically feasible," it is stated in the document.

Economic savings and a shorter route means the transmission line to pass 11 kilometers through the Lovćen National Park and another three kilometers through the Durmitor National Park.

The EBRD's website states that they consulted several environmental NGOs to assist CGES in preparing the ESIA in line with the EU Directive and the bank's requirements.

One of them is Green Home, whose executive director Natasa Kovacevic emphasized for CIN-CG, that they have warned the EBRD that this project is not following the principles of environmental sustainability and asked it to refrain from financing it in the foreseeable future unless all issues are resolved adequately.

During public hearings on environmental impact assessments organized by the EBRD and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), three key issues were highlighted - the environmental damage of the project, socio-economic justification and shortcomings in spatial planning.

“We tried to point out that the planned transmission line passes through the zone of strict protection of NP Durmitor and the second zone of NP Lovćen and additionally passes through four Emerald areas (Lovćen, Durmitor, the rivers Komarnica and Tara) as future Natura 2000 areas, and that the planned corridor and route violates the provisions of the Law on Nature Protection, " Kovacevic told CIN-CG.

According to her, the alternative was not chosen because avoiding the Lovćen National Park would be 18 kilometers longer and 7.74 million more expensive, and in the case of the Durmitor National Park, that would mean an additional 29 kilometers and 8.35 million euros.

Kovačević emphasizes that the visual and landscape identity of Durmitor and the Tara River is especially endangered by the transmission line: "Classified as highly sensitive, intolerant of changes, and it was already clear that the combined 40-50 meters transmission line poles through Durmitor and the Tara River canyon would significantly jeopardize one of the most important criteria for declaring this area a UNESCO natural heritage site."

The route of the transmission line in two places cuts off the map of the Emerald zone of NP Lovćen, which can be seen from the study for the transmission line "Lastva - Čevo" from November 2014, which CIN-CG received under the Law on Free Access to Information. The study done for the needs of CGES was conducted by the "Medix" bureau whose founder and executive director is Ljiljana Vuksanović.

Biologist Vuk Iković, a representative of the organization KOD, also points out that the transmission line caused the loss of the visual identity of Lovćen, distorting, in addition to the landscape, the biological value of the park.

The KOD believes that, if national parks could not be bypassed, an underground cable should have been chosen. That would not be an exception, because about 5.5 kilometers of underground cable was laid from the Adriatic coast to the converter station in Lastva.

"Maybe some other country would have a justification for not using the underground cable, but not Montenegro since it is defined by the Constitution as an ecological state. Our state should be covered by forests, not cables, cords, and pipes," Ikovic told CIN-CG.

CGES told CIN-CG that the option of laying underground cables in combination with an overhead transmission line was considered, but that such a solution "in addition to introducing disturbances, i.e. significant problems in the operation of the transmission system, is also avoided in international practice."

"Such a way of building the transmission lines would be economically unprofitable, especially having in mind the configuration of the terrain, i.e. mountain topography and forests, where the works on laying the underground cable would be far more complex, extensive, accompanied by mining, which would have a much greater impact on the environment and society as a whole,” CGES claims.

During the selection of the corridor, as pointed out by CGES in the answers to the CIN-CG's questions, care was taken to bypass protected areas, avoid fragmentation of national parks, as well as to use the routes of the existing 110-kilovolt transmission lines as much as possible.

The EBRD document states that the route of the transmission line in some parts of the Lovćen National Park is up to 100 meters wide. Ikovic points out that the harmful consequences most often occur "at a distance of one kilometer from the route itself". He says that building of a transmission line or a road prevents part of the animals from reaching the feeding ground or breeding area. Certain species must be exposed to the sun to move from one part of the forest to another which may be "fatal for many of them." But it not clear what consequences it may have, because in the Study on the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Transmission Line Čevo - Pljevlja, Iković points out, it is written that it has not been investigated in detail.

"If you do not know with great certainty the state of nature, then you cannot even know how a transmission line will affect the animal world and what measures should be prescribed to reduce the negative impact. The doctor cannot prescribe you medication before making a diagnosis ", Iković warns.

Some forest species that are active during the day must cross the cleared area and be directly exposed to the sun. This is fatal for species that lose water quickly such as amphibians.

Ikovic points out that, for example, salamanders are on the list of protected animals in Montenegro and are highly sensitive to temperature changes.

"If the cleared area passes through the reproductive center of the salamander population (e.g. ponds or puddle), then that species will disappear from that locality because there is no place to lay eggs. A similar thing happens if the route in the form of a barrier prevents salamanders from reaching the pond," Ikovic said.

Nature was not taken into account when the transmission line was built, but, in Iković's opinion, it was designed "according to petty-own interests".

He reminds that national parks, in addition to natural wealth, also have a strong tourist dimension. According to official data, all five were visited by 600,000 people last year, mostly Durmitor.

Ornithologist Bojan Zekovic from the Center for Protection and Research of Birds (CZIP) also told CIN-CG that he is additionally concerned because "the area of Jezerska Površ (Plateau of Lakes) on Durmitor, especially around Bara Zugića, is important for the migration of predators," which are also the high-risk group due to the possibility of death from electric shock or collision with installations.

Zekovic says that further monitoring is necessary to see which species are most endangered and in which parts, but he also suggests the installation of jammers and insulators.

Cecilia Calatrava, a communication specialist at EBRD, told CIN-CG that during the route selection they agreed on "measures with CGES to reduce the consequences in the NP, including local analyzes for setting up poles and timing for construction works that are out of the season of nesting and mating birds."

Unlike the environmental organizations Green Home, KOD, CZIP, and others, the Public Enterprise National Parks claims for CIN-CG that the entire transmission line route goes through the third zone of both parks, which, according to the Law on Nature Protection implies that settlements and accompanying infrastructure can be built.

Considering that Terna, instead of a 1200MW submarine cable, installed half as small, economist Dejan Mijović believes that the existing high-voltage transmission network, built with the support of the World Bank in the 1970s, and which connects all countries of the former Yugoslavia, can service all electricity trade of Montenegro and its neighbors with Italy.

"CGES's investment in the construction of the Lastva transformer station and its connection to the existing transmission network was rational and justified. However, the construction of a new transmission line to Pljevlja and the destruction of national parks was unnecessarily rushed after the Italian Terna gave up laying the second core of the 600MW cable, without any guarantee that it would do so in the foreseeable future. Therefore, it would be most rational for CGES and Montenegro to immediately stop further construction of the transmission line and the use of the unspent part of the EBRD loan. Even if the Italian partner changes its mind in the meantime, a part of the transmission line should be dismantled, which completely devastated our most beautiful natural areas and endangered the survival of the local population, because it made them unsuitable for the development of rural tourism. In any case, it is necessary to carry out a detailed cost-benefit analysis of alternative construction options, i.e. the possibility of bypassing or laying an underground cable through the most vulnerable areas, as this has never been done properly. I am convinced that such an analysis would show that there is a solution whose benefits for society would be significantly greater than the slightly increased construction costs," Mijovic said in an interview with CIN-CG.

He reminds that Terna's initial motive was to enable the import of cheap electricity from the region because it could be sold at higher prices in Italy. They counted on large imports from existing and newly built production facilities in the region, not just green energy, which required a 1,200MW cable.

"They gave up when they realized things were not going according to plan, that numerous, market-competitive solar and wind power plants (financially viable without state subsidies) were being built in Italy, while Montenegro and other countries in the region were not realizing planned investments in expensive and unprofitable thermal and hydropower plants ", Mijović said.

Terna did not answer CIN-CG's questions about whether and when another submarine cable is expected to be installed, and CGES said that it was "primarily related to the future needs of the electricity market in both the Balkans and the Apennine Peninsula."  Referring to the executive director of TERNA, Luigi Ferraris, the Italian media announced that the second cable can be expected only in 2026-2027.

CGES previously told CIN-CG that the works on the construction of the transmission line through the Durmitor National Park have not started yet, except for the preparations for cutting down the forest on the access roads and the transmission line route on the territory of Zabljak. The COVID-19 pandemic, they point out, has partially slowed down the works, but they will try to finish them on time.

"The plan envisages that the works on the construction of the TL Čevo - Pljevlja will be completed by the end of 2021," it was stated in the response from CGES.

The total budget of the transmission line project is around 106 million euros. As of 2019, more than 95 million euros have been spent. The construction of the "Lastva-Čevo" section amounted to about 31, while about 40 million euros were allocated for the "Čevo-Pljevlja" part.

Through the estate, no matter what

The persistence of CGES to pass the transmission line through national parks will affect citizens as well. Radomir Martinović from Cetinje goes to Ulcinj every other day to get milk to make and then sell cheese. He had moved a herd of cows from the Lovćen National Park to the south after transmission lines were installed over his property.

On the estate, a few kilometers before a popular picnic spot Ivanova korita, in addition to two houses, Martinovic also has an unfinished motel. The problems, he claims, started when the commission of the Real Estate Administration, composed of four court experts, determined that "there should not be residential or other construction facilities in the corridor of this section of the transmission line".

After Martinovic's complaint, the same commission noted three months later that "transmission lines diagonally divide arable agricultural land and the small part of land remains on the southwest side, with a family house and an auxiliary facility."

The document of the commission of the Real Estate Administration from mid-July 2013, which CIN-CG had access to, states the concern "that there is a possibility that electric and magnetic fields adversely affect human health, because they encourage the development of malignant diseases, leukemia in children, to destroy the body's immune system, create suicidal instincts in people who stay longer in the transmission line zone ".

The Commission assessed that CGES should consider the possibility of relocating the transmission line route. Martinović says that his relatives offered the transmission lines to cross their properties. CGES told CIN-CG, however, that in 2017 they analyzed how to avoid Martinovic's property, but, "unfortunately, neither the owner nor his neighbors and relatives showed readiness to accept a compromise solution."

“… A fair compensation for the real estate which is the subject of expropriation has also been considered, but Mr. Martinovic did not agree with the proposed one,” the state-owned company said.

Martinović points out that they offered him about a quarter of a million, but that foreign experts estimated that his property was worth three million euros. He would be satisfied with two million, to buy another land, build a motel and continue the family business with his sons.

No agreement was reached, and CGES explains that based on the decisions of the Real Estate Administration and the Basic Court in Cetinje, it installed a transmission line over the property "as provided by the Detailed Spatial Plan (DSP) and the issued building permit, because the landowner did not allow any works ”.

The KOD organization, which has dealt with this and several other cases, says that CGES did not approach the compensation of the local population on a fair basis.

"In 2017 alone, CGES earned 34.7 million euros with a profit of 4.7 million euros. They offered the family we had contact with 2.3 euros per square meter, although the expert's report says that the possibility of use will be significantly reduced. In the vicinity, the land is sold for over 20 euros per square meter ", Iković said.

The maximum capacity

According to CGES data, from the commissioning of the submarine cable until the end of August, including transit through the Montenegrin system, 916,631.59 MWh was imported from Italy, while 916,641.03 MWh was exported to that country.

Despite significant challenges and disruptions in the electricity market with the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, the results so far not only support the thesis of the cost-effectiveness of the submarine cable project but also exceed the company's expectations, CGES said, pointing out that they "regardless of when the second core will be laid", received at their disposal a part of the capacity of the submarine cable of 200 MW, which was defined at the beginning of the project.

Based on the data on the site, it can be seen that a maximum cable transmission capacity of 600 MW was often used.

“Revenues of transmission system operators come from the allocation of cross-border transmission capacities. CGES earned € 4,435,201.93 at the auctions of cross-border capacity allocation on the border with Italy, while in the first nine months of this year, the revenue from the allocation of cross-border capacity with Italy was € 3,755,552.57,” the CGES stated.

Miloš RUDOVIĆ

EVEN THOUGH THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECLARED 2028 AS A REASONABLE DEADLINE FOR AN ASBESTOS-FREE EUROPE, MONTENEGRO DOES NOT HAVE ANY ACCURATE RECORDS OF CANCER-CAUSING MATERIAL OR A PLAN FOR ITS REMOVAL

"My child will be bathing there tomorrow," Mladen Krivokapic told CIN-CG/Monitor.

He is one of 15 workers who worked on clearing the terrain of the former Bijela Shipyard. The removal of huge quantities of grit and other dangerous materials was supposed to be completed by the end of June. But their contracts were not extended in May, after, as they claim, they warned their supervisors that the area is being cleaned unprofessionally and that dangerous asbestos-containing material remains in the environment which poses threat to human health.

''In some places, the ground was dug seven meters and it was properly cleaned, while in other, against regulation, only half a meter. We asked the Nature and Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and Center for Ecotoxicological Research (CETI) to check it. However, instead of CETI taking the sample itself, the Valgo Company provided samples for it, after which CETI claimed everything was fine. NEPA didn’t even show up,'' Krivokapic claims.

The five-member team, which, according to him, was trained by experts from the Valgo Company from Paris, extracted asbestos from the grit.

"They had complete equipment, like astronauts - gloves, masks, suits, oxygen. Up to eight kilograms of asbestos were extracted daily and stored according to a special procedure. Several tons of asbestos are now stored in the Shipyard, waiting for export ", Krivokapić says.

We have not received answers from the Valgo Company, whose representatives signed the contract with the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism in June 2018, on the soil remediation in the former Bijela Shipyard. NEPA hasn’t responded either regarding the claims of the fired workers.

Valgo has been selected following the international tender. The removal of grit (solid waste and contaminated land) is part of a project to rehabilitate black environmental spots, for which Montenegro has taken a 50 million euro loan from the World Bank. After that, a mega yacht service is planned to be built in Bijela, based on a 30-year concession given by the Government to the Damen-Porto Montenegro consortium.

The protest of these workers and the asbestos stored in Bijela additionally brought to the fore the topic of the health risk of the population. Even though the European Parliament approved a resolution in 2013 declaring 2028 a reasonable deadline for "an asbestos-free Europe", Montenegro still does not have accurate records of asbestos-containing facilities or a precise plan on how to remove from the environment material that causes some of the most serious diseases.

Government institutions dealing with ecology are mainly concerned with shifting responsibilities and recalling that the 2016 Law on Environment (11 years after the EU directive) completely prohibits asbestos-containing products from entering the market, as well as the use of all types of asbestos fibers. They also remind that it stipulates that facilities built after this period, do not contain asbestos.

Inhalation of asbestos fibers causes lung cancer

Existing facilities and devices are an issue. Inhalation of asbestos fibers has been shown to cause lung cancer and other lung diseases. Asbestos fibers are invisible, up to 500 times thinner than hair follicles. The consequences of exposure to a "silent killer" can occur even after 40 years.

"Asbestos is all around us" – this is the title of a publication published ten years ago by the Croatian Institute of Toxicology. It is very similar to the Manual on the Handling of Materials Containing Asbestos Fibers issued in 2017 by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism (MSDT) and the Nature and Environment Protection Agency. According to this manual, every building that was constructed or refurbished before 2000 could contain asbestos.

Prominent Dutch expert Harry Vonk, the author of numerous books on the subject, pointed out, during his visit to Belgrade last year, that more than 18,000 items contain asbestos, of which only 15 percent do not cause cancer.

"Harmful health effects of inhaled asbestos particles are a consequence of its proven carcinogenic effect," Dr. Ivana Joksimović from the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro told CIN-CG. "If necessary, asbestos removal should only be carried out under strict control measures to avoid exposure. This requires the use of personal protective equipment - special respirators, protective goggles, gloves, and clothing, as well as adherence to special instructions for their decontamination."

From water heaters to brakes

Joksimović reminds that asbestos was installed in households in different places, in external or partition walls, different forms of cement mixture or mixture with polymers such as vinyl, old roof panels, as an insulator in ovens, water heaters or steam heating boilers, in plumbing pipes, electrical appliances, car brake systems, gloves and clothing for heat protection…

Joksimović states that workers in the following industries are at risk of contracting asbestosis and other diseases related to asbestos: shipbuilding industry, tractor industry, motor and textile industry, construction workers, workers renovating houses and removing asbestos, as well as miners.

"It is very important to emphasize that asbestos materials must not be touched unless it is necessary because decomposition is a very big issue during its removal due to the health risk to which both workers and citizens are exposed," Joksimović emphasizes.

The World Health Organization estimates that 125 million people worldwide are exposed to asbestos in the workplace each year. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), more than 107,000 workers die each year from disease caused by such exposure. Several thousand people die each year from asbestos in their surroundings. According to European experts’ estimates, about half a million people in the EU will die by 2030 due to asbestos exposure in the second half of the 20th century. Although asbestos was banned by Sweden 30 years ago, the number of deaths due to occupational exposure to it is two to three times higher than the number of deaths due to work-related injuries.

The consequences of asbestos exposure in Montenegro are not sufficiently known.

"According to data obtained from healthcare institutions, diseases that can be linked to asbestos exposure are rarely reported, but there is currently no mechanism to confirm the causal link with certainty. The establishing of the register of occupational diseases will create conditions for connecting, identifying and confirming asbestos-related occupational diseases", Joksimović says.

Such register has never existed in Montenegro, and the Government's Strategy for Improving Occupational Medicine 2015-2020 states that "there is no reliable data on the incidence and prevalence of occupational diseases." There is a Rulebook on Determination of Occupational Diseases, which lists 56 occupational diseases, including asbestosis of the lungs, but there are no data on sick persons.

Đina Mitrić, the coordinator of the Safety at Work Association of Montenegro (SWAM), reminds us that this first of August, on the World Lung Cancer Day, the need to raise awareness about the risks was pointed out. One of the most common forms of cancer is associated with exposure to dangerous substances, such as asbestos.

"But, it seems that people in Montenegro don’t want to listen about that," Mitric said.

Experts needed only because of the loan

According to her, the Association contacted professors from the Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology who were in the expert teams regarding the mentioned grit in Bijela and found that none of them had any information on what was happening at that location.

"The moment the funds were received from the World Bank, their expert opinions were no longer of interest to anyone. It is only known that the grit still lies in the crumbling sacks in Bijela. Nobody knows what happened to the asbestos that was extracted from it and other dangerous heavy metal impurities," Mitric says.

Civil engineer and appraiser Predrag Nikolic points out for CIN-CG that it is necessary to remove asbestos pipes in the water supply system. That job will imply certain health risks, so the necessary equipment and protection should be provided. Monitor/CIN-CG wrote that it is necessary to replace about 620 kilometers of water pipes in Montenegrin waterworks, for which 100 million euros are needed.

When it comes to the region, the progress has been recorded. Siniša Mitrović, from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, explains for CIN-CG/Monitor that last year they intensified cooperation with the Dutch company KIWA, which is the leading company in Europe for asbestos disposal. So far, they have created the project Asbestos Monitoring in Serbia, in which special emphasis is placed on public facilities - schools, military barracks, centers for social work, health and agricultural facilities, water supply infrastructure…

"We are raising the capacity of the laboratories for testing the presence of asbestos in construction facilities, and the first asbestos handling center during the demolition of buildings and its proper disposal. We are finishing the new Rulebook on asbestos since the previous one was made in 2010. The most important thing is that we are ready for the regional monitoring project, as well as for the regional center for permanent storage of asbestos ", Mitrović says.

He recommends to his colleagues in Montenegro to establish contact with a Dutch company, which, among other things, can help access EU funds to solve this problem.

"The cadaster of facilities containing asbestos has been established, but since there is no legal regulation by which representatives of local self-governments would be obliged to report such facilities, that work cannot be carried out well," Mirjana Sklabinski from the Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection stated.

"The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism does not have data on facilities in the construction of which asbestos was used," the MSDT answered CIN-CG/Monitor.

According to the architect Borislav Vukićević, this indicates a whole series of problems. He explains that the establishment of a database on asbestos-containing facilities is the first step on the way to defining procedures for its safe removal.

''If there is no initial data - then it is not possible to plan further activities. This does not only apply to the list of facilities. It is necessary to determine the exact positions of the asbestos elements in those facilities - which would be, I suppose, a serious and demanding job - which would necessarily precede the removal itself ", Vukićević said.

The Agency recalled the existing manual and submitted data that in 2010 they issued a permit for the export of 1,500 tons of waste construction materials containing asbestos. The second permit was issued in March 2018, when 200 tons were exported. The waste was exported to Germany, and the work was done by the Hemosan Company from Bar.

Zoran Nikitović from Hemosan says that their company worked on the removal, packaging, storage, and export of hazardous waste, including asbestos waste, on the entire territory of Montenegro. Since 2010, they have exported a total of 1,488.70 tons of all types of hazardous waste - Porto Montenegro 594.20 tons, Lustica Development 145 tons, Porto Novi 220.37 tons. It is exported to EU countries, and one of them is Germany.

"The price is determined by parameters such as quantity, type, export destination, packaging, storage," Nikitovic says. He is not allowed to state the precise price due to contractual obligations, he explains, but they range from 1,100 to 1,300 euros per ton.

"The main goal is to protect the population from a disease called asbestosis, which causes lung cancer and which is recognized in the world as one of the causes of lung diseases. It is very important that protection measures are carried out rigorously and that there is no improvisation in this type of work, as with all types of hazardous waste. Exports are done according to the Basel Convention and it is quite difficult to get a permit to the final destination. After packing, it can be stored at the location of work, or if there are smaller quantities in our warehouses that are specialized and safely packed ", Nikitović says.

When asked what kind of waste construction material it was, whether they were removed from old buildings, how much it cost to remove it and export to Germany, the Agency said that they did not have that information and referred us to MSDT.

The Administration for Inspection Affairs, however, states that the Agency also has competencies: "Asbestos that is installed in buildings, in case of demolition, i.e. removal is considered hazardous waste, according to the Law on Waste Management. Investors, or contractors, depending on who is the holder of such waste, must develop a Construction Waste Management Plan, and since asbestos is considered hazardous construction waste, they must obtain the consent of the Nature and Environmental Protection Agency."

"In previous years, on several large investment projects, the asbestos roofing was removed. A legal entity licensed by the Agency for Management of this type of waste was in charge of asbestos removal. The Administration stated that after its removal, it was packed and after obtaining permits, exported from Montenegro for permanent disposal.

MSDT told CIN-CG that "in order to introduce energy efficiency measures", a large number of health facilities, educational and social institutions and buildings, where the administration is located, were renovated, and that "… in case of finding asbestos materials it was removed and managed in an adequate and legally prescribed manner." For the exact number of facilities, we were referred to the Ministry of Economy.

Former Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Pavle Radulović, was not specific in one of the last public appearances in October last year during the parliamentary debate, in which he, referring to asbestos and a large number of cancer patients, stated:

''The existence of asbestos is a factual situation. We are grown people, we can tell fairy tales, but asbestos pipes, roofs, and facades still exist in certain parts of Montenegro. These citizens have been warned. I hope that the state will regulate it through the social program since the citizens cannot finance the replacements themselves.''

Radulovic has resigned, and Prime Minister Dusko Markovic is currently at the head of MSDT. Asbestos is not in the program documents of the current election campaign.

NO MORE WASTE EXPORTS TO SPAIN

In Bijela, it was necessary to treat 150 thousand tons of materials - land, dust from metal residues, and other waste, on an area of about 18 thousand square meters. The project relies on Valgo's expertise (Valgo is an asbestos removal and soil remediation company) regarding detailed analysis of contaminated soil and treatment of sensitive waste including hydrocarbon derivatives, metal, and asbestos.

From March to August last year, 38,500 tons of grit were exported to Spain. In September last year, the Montenegrin government asked Spain for permission to export another 30,000 tons of solid waste and 40,000 tons of contaminated land but they refused. Since then, grit export has been stopped. Valgo Company announced in April this year that the Norwegian Environmental Protection Agency had given the green light for the import of contaminated land from the Bijela Shipyard.

"Tons of grit, enough to fill seven to eight ships are waiting to be exported. Everything stopped, although according to the contract with Valgo, it was supposed to be finished by June 30 ", Krivokapić says.

ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIAL WAS KNOWN TO BE HARMFUL

Asbestos was widely used in construction between 1950 and the mid-1980s. This material was installed in factories, halls, houses, entire residential areas, but also in schools and hospitals throughout the former Yugoslavia. It is most often used in the components of vinyl tiles and vinyl floors and a popular asbestos roof panels in Yugoslavia.

The Salonit factory in Vranjica near Split, which has used asbestos in the production of construction materials since 1921, has produced over seven million tons of asbestos roof panels.

"It was known 40 years ago that asbestos was harmful. I remember that my father took it off from the old house, so he covered the barn and barracks with it ", says a farmer from Bjelopavlići. A similar experience is described in Croatian manuals dealing with this topic: "If people were aware of this danger, it would not happen that the replaced asbestos roof covering would end up as a temporary roof covering for all possible canopies, storage rooms, as protection and a roof for wood and dog houses, etc."

Asbestos is a solid material, and any work on its removal or replacement when it breaks, punctures, drills, creates an emission of asbestos dust, which when inhaled causes serious diseases.

In 2018 alone, close to 300 tons of asbestos waste was removed in Serbia. The plan is to make a national register in the next two years so that Serbia can apply for European funds and thus repair as many facilities as possible.

Predrag NIKOLIĆ
Andrea JELIĆ

Experts claim that asbestos water pipes are not so harmful, but their replacement is primarily to protect human health and the environment. It is estimated that the investment requires at least 100 million euros, while the state still does not have 750 thousand for the project

Health protection of the population and huge technical and economic losses are officially the reasons why Montenegro has to follow the example of other European countries and replace about 620 kilometers of water pipes, made with a mixture of asbestos fibers and cement.

It is uncertain when the whole work will start because 100 million euros are needed, and currently, there is not even 750 thousand euros for the project development - the research of the Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG) and the weekly Monitor has shown.

Currently, only the residents of Plužine and Petnjica have the privilege of not drinking water from asbestos-cement pipes. Others can only comfort themselves that there is no reliable evidence of the harmful effects of ingesting asbestos fibers. However, inhaling asbestos can cause cancer.

In Montenegro, the ban on placing on the market and use of asbestos fibers was introduced only by the 2016 Law on the Environment. Due to the possible carcinogenic effect, this material was banned in the European Union (EU) in 2005. This regulation allows the use of products containing asbestos fibers, installed or in service before 2005, in the EU until their disposal, i.e. the end of their service life, so many European cities still face the same problem.

Asbestos was widely used in construction between 1950 and the mid-1980s when pipes made of this material and cement were installed in water supply systems in all countries of the former Yugoslavia.

Inhalation of asbestos fibers proven dangerous: Hygiene specialist Dr. Ivana Joksimović from the Institute for Public Health (IPH), who conducts the sanitary analysis of drinking water, explains for CIN-CG/Monitor that asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral, mostly magnesium and iron. Due to its characteristics - resistance to temperature, stretching, and chemicals, it was used for the production of water pipes during the last century.

Thus, these pipes are still part of the distribution networks of European and world capitals. It is estimated that there are more than 400 kilometers of them in the Belgrade water supply system, and it is similar in Budapest, Barcelona, Sofia, Vienna, Lisbon, Warsaw, Rotterdam…

Harmful health effects of inhaled asbestos particles, as Dr. Joksimović points out, are a consequence of the proven carcinogenic effect.

"However, not all the details regarding the health effects of asbestos intake through drinking water passing through asbestos-cement pipes have been clarified yet. Nevertheless, it is considered that ingesting is far less harmful from the health aspect than the inhalation of asbestos particles ", Joksimović states.

Hydrologist Mihailo Burić told CIN-CG/Monitor that due to erosion or physical damage to the pipes, there is a risk that asbestos fibers can be found in the water: “This is everywhere marked as a health risk and asbestos pipes are phased out from the residential, commercial and industrial piping. Asbestos does not dissolve in water, so there is no danger on that basis." It is not known to Burić if asbestos has been found in our waters.

He also states that chlorination of water carries certain health risks, and those modern systems for water purification use UV rays and ozonation. However, these techniques are still way too expensive for Montenegro.

"Our waters are at the top in the world in terms of primary quality, there is only a bacteriological risk", Buric explicitly stated.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has no guidelines: This is exactly the risk that the Nature and Environment Protection Agency (NEPA) states in its reports every year - the biggest sources of surface and groundwater pollution are municipal wastewater. The latest published report for 2018 states: "In the continental part, the natural water quality at almost all groundwater sources is worsened by predominantly anthropogenic influences and is the result of inadequate sanitary protection and inadequate sanitation of the catchment area." Groundwater in Montenegro provides about 92 percent of the total amount of water to supply settlements.

The World Health Organization has so far not determined the carcinogenicity of asbestos ingested by drinking water, so there are no guidelines on the permitted amount in water. A risk has been recognized for people working on the removal of asbestos pipes because they can inhale particles of this material.

"Asbestos exposure occurs through inhalation of fibers present in the air, most often in the work environment, near factories where asbestos is used, or indoors containing asbestos materials in poor condition. Prolonged exposure can cause lung cancer and other lung diseases ", is stated on the website of the Ministry of Health of Croatia.

The Institute of Public Health 'Batut' in Belgrade reacted to the frequent media reports in Serbia that drinking water flowing through asbestos pipes causes cancer, saying that epidemiological studies on experimental animals and the human population have shown that there are harmful effects on health if asbestos is inhaled, but that there are no harmful effects if ingested with drinking water.

The director of the Croatian Institute of Toxicology, Dr. Franjo Plavšić, also categorically claims that there is no harm to the health of the population, considering that asbestos particles do not dissolve in water. He has stated in the author's article that "asbestos is dangerous only if its fibers are inhaled, while they can’t cause health problems if swallowed."

TWO-THIRDS OF WATER ARE LOST: Pipes containing asbestos, on the other hand, showed shortcomings due to the large loss of water flowing through them. Burić states that the technical and economic motives for replacing these pipes are significant because up to two-thirds of water is lost.

"The question is how realistically the constant losses are shown – according to some the loss is 50 percent, and according to others 70 percent. It is certain that part of the losses is caused by asbestos pipes, because they often burst, unlike new plastic ones ", Burić says.

The Association of Waterworks of Montenegro (AWM), which brings together all Montenegrin water companies, began preparing the project "Replacement of asbestos-cement pipes in the water supply networks of Montenegro" in June 2018. Despite assurances from experts that asbestos pipes are safe, they also indicated in the project's objectives that its replacement "provides health protection to the population", then reduces water losses, increases water security, enormously increases business efficiency, and meets EU requirements, which is in line with the negotiating Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change.

The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism (MSDT) explained to CIN-CG/Monitor that the replacement of these pipes is not one of the criteria for closing Chapter 27, in negotiations with the European Union, but that "our country is replacing the remaining asbestos-cement water pipes, primarily to protect human health and the environment”.

COALITION 27 IS WARNING OF WASTE: "The distribution water supply network in most cities consists of asbestos-cement pipes. Disposal of construction waste containing asbestos is not adequately regulated ", it is stated in the Shadow Report of the Coalition 27 (non-government organizations dealing with ecology). They also stated that it is necessary to raise public awareness about the harmfulness of chemicals, handling substances containing asbestos fibers, and handling asbestos waste.

Thanks to the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in 2019, project tasks were prepared for 21 municipalities, necessary for the development of major projects for the reconstruction of asbestos-cement pipes.

Within the local self-governments, there are 21 city companies for water supply and sewerage with a total of 2,124 employees. Most of them are in Podgorica - over 600.

"Every water supply system in Montenegro has technical and commercial losses. The technical losses are affected by the age and quality of the installed water supply network, and in developed countries, they range from 18 to 22 percent ", Bojan Lazović, the President of the Assembly of the Association of Waterworks of Montenegro, explains.

In addition to the losses recorded by developed countries as well, the specificity of Montenegro is the so-called commercial losses, which is a euphemism of illegal connections and theft.

"Based on the research, we came to the data that water theft accounts for close to 18 percent of total commercial losses, which mostly happens in suburban settlements," Filip Makrid, the executive director of Podgorica's Water and Sewerage Company, explains.

As the most common reason for this type of loss, he states the impossibility of access to the network, because most of it passes through private properties. The solution, according to Lazovic and Makrid, would be to relocate the pipeline under public space, which is a lengthy process that requires a lot of money.

In Herceg Novi, on the way to the consumers, close to 60 percent of water is lost in the summer and about 70 percent in the winter months. The losses are also a consequence of the fact that in Bijelo Polje, for example, the water supply and sewerage network dates from 1961. In Nikšić, the average age of pipes is 35 years, while some parts were installed in 1931.

According to Makrid, Podgorica has smaller losses compared to other municipalities. They managed to reduce them from 61.77 percent in 2010, to the current 48-49 percent.

Despite the reduction, only in Podgorica, due to losses on the network, there is an annual loss of water in the market value of about seven million euros. This calculation was made at the beginning of the year by Zoran Mikić, a member of the Civic Movement United Reform Action (URA) in the Assembly of the Capital, emphasizing that more than 40 million euros of water have been spilled in the last seven years.

Makrid announces that a pilot project to reduce network losses for the areas of Donja and Gornja Gorica, Donji Kokoti, as well as the settlements of Beri, Farmaci, Lekići, and Grbavci, will be completed in the second half of the year.

Asbestos-cement pipes were dominant in the capital's water supply system 15 years ago, but they managed to reduce it from 60 to 18 percent. There are still 136 kilometers of these pipes in Podgorica, and "greater progress is not possible without additional funds, earmarked for this type of work", Makrid says.

"The replacement of dilapidated asbestos-cement pipes is conditioned by the size of the pipeline that is changing. Pipelines with smaller diameters up to 100 millimeters are mostly replaced by polyethylene pipes, and larger diameters with ductile iron or steel pipes,” Markid explains.

The estimated average value for the construction of one meter of water pipe, when replaced, is between 80 and 200 euros. Makrid said that "according to experience, taking into account the urban conditions where the largest number has been located the costs for Podgorica will range from 120 to 180 euros per meter".

MSDT calculates that 170 thousand euros are needed for the preparation of the first phase of the main project, which would replace the 129-kilometer-long pipe.

"These funds need to be planned within the budget of local self-government units, with the support of the capital budget." The deadline for the development of the main projects for the reconstruction of asbestos-cement pipes will be defined after the provision of financial funds, after which the reconstruction will begin," the Ministry has stated.

Assessing that 750,000 euros are needed to make the complete main project for the replacement of about 620 kilometers of pipes, Lazović states that water supply systems are not a unique system like the Electric Power Industry of Montenegro, because the founders and owners are the municipalities.

"Therefore, all investments, including the replacement of dilapidated pipelines, depend on the financial situation of the water supply companies," Lazović explains.

Risky in buildings older than 20 years

At the parliamentary session in October last year, MP of Democratic Front (DF) Branko Radulović asked then Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Pavle Radulović if he knew how many asbestos-cement pipes through which water flows in Montenegro were there. "There are 3,000 people who officially get cancer. One thousand five hundred are cured, and one thousand five hundred die. These are IPH's data," Radulović said.

"We are grown people, we can tell fairy tales, but asbestos pipes, roofs, and facades still exist in certain parts of Montenegro. These citizens have been warned. I hope that the state will regulate it through the social program since the citizens cannot finance the replacements themselves. And it’s not just about asbestos. You’ve heard that 16 water companies don’t measure abstraction (water intended for human consumption is water abstracted from a spring and has the quality prescribed for raw water). So, we don't know quantities they abstract" former Minister Pavle Radulović said at the time.

The Nature and Environment Protection Agency issued a Manual on the Handling Materials Containing Asbestos Fibers three years ago. It states that, if the facility was built before 2000, it can be assumed that asbestos is present in it. It is also stated where asbestos was installed in households: in external or partition walls, old panels on roofs, as an insulator in ovens, water heaters, or steam heating boilers…

The media in the region published the statements of experts that in the former SFRY, asbestos was used during the construction of factories, halls, but also entire apartment blocks, health, and school facilities.

There is a well-known case of the asbestos settlement of Bele Vode, in Belgrade, in which apartment owners protested against the frequent occurrence of cancer. After ten years of protests, the entire settlement was relocated, and the demolition of the old one, which began in 2006, was completed in late 2011. Now the new buildings are there.

The cause of the most serious diseases

According to the website of the Croatian Ministry of Health, the main diseases caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers are mesothelioma (a rare type of aggressive and deadly form of cancer), lung cancer (high mortality), and other lung diseases: asbestosis (does not result in mortality, but it is a progressive disease) and diffuse pleural thickening (not life-threatening). It also states data from the World Health Organization that 125 million people worldwide are exposed to asbestos in the workplace: “During 2004, asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis due to asbestos exposure at work caused the deaths of 107,000 people, at 1,523,000, the exposure resulted in health consequences that cause premature death”.

There is no cure for these often deadly diseases caused by asbestos. According to the Slovenian government's website: "Asbestos exposure remains a major problem in removal, demolition and maintenance procedures. Due to the long delay, the disease can appear even after 20 to 40 years after exposure. As asbestos use in Europe increased until the late 1970s, the annual number of malignancies will continue to increase even in those countries that first banned its use. In some Member States, the annual number of asbestos-related diseases will reach its peak only around 2030."

A little chlorine, cloudy and sometimes salty

Hygiene specialist Dr. Ivana Joksimović says that based on the results of analyzes from previous years, it can be said that the quality of drinking water in Montenegro is satisfactory, and that work should be done to preserve it by protecting the source and improving the supply system.

"If we analyze drinking water test results from the city water supply system, we can conclude that the cause of the malfunction was mostly the lack of residual chlorine and increased turbidity (during periods of heavy rainfall). In addition, on some water supply systems, especially in the period of low waters, salinization occurs on the coast ", Joksimović says.

According to the results of microbiological tests of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro, during 2019, only 2.95 percent of chlorinated water samples did not meet the prescribed health standards, most often due to the increased total number of bacteria and the identification of coliform bacteria.

"A significantly higher percentage of defective samples was registered at measuring points in local, rural water supply systems, which indicates the need for more active monitoring in the coming period," Joksimović points out.

 Predrag NIKOLIĆ

State institutions left the river to itself to solve the problem of pollution and ecocide downstream from Bijelo Polje. High-quality fish are declining, heavy metals have been found in them, and the number of fishermen has been reduced by three quarters.

"Nobody fishes in the Lim anymore. People neither eat fish nor give it to children because of the pollution. The fish stock has been reduced. There is not even ten percent of the former ", Ismet Softić, president of the Sport Fishing Club "Sinjavac" says for the Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG).

He points out that in 2009, 828 recreational fishing licenses were issued, while only 220 last year. The fish used to be the primary food source for people of this area, but now nobody wants to eat it because it is contaminated.

Today, there are more than 270 illegal landfills near the Lim. There is a large number of industrial pollutants and untreated wastewater, from the half-century-old and 185-kilometer-long sewage network in Bijelo Polje flows into the river. All that has turned the river into one of the most polluted watercourses in Montenegro.

Due to the pollution, trout and some plant species disappear from the Lim, while others that tolerate released toxins are settled. Experts have also discovered a high concentration of heavy metals in fish.

A study conducted by CIN-CG showed that, even though the Lim has been declared a river of national importance and despite the warnings of experts and the obligations from the Negotiating Chapter 27, the state institutions do little to improve the current situation.

The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism (MSDT) and its Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro (EPA), as well as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the Water Administration, do not have a comprehensive analysis of the River Lim, sediments, fauna and flora, land and degree of endangerment.

The Water Administration does not have a water cadastre. They accuse the municipalities of being late with the data. The municipality of Bijelo Polje has not even started the planned construction of a wastewater treatment plant. Fines for polluters are symbolic and often expire. Symbolic fines of several hundred Euros for individuals, up to a thousand for companies that persistently do not install treatment plants, are more stimulating than warning.

Occasional cases of fish die-off or changes in the color of the river due to the release of toxic substances, most often end in police reports against unknown persons and endless investigations without results. The Lim and other rivers in the north of the country are overseen by one inspector.

A fish die-off - investigation still underway: The source of the Lim is spotlessly clean. The Lim flows out of the lake Plav, collecting streams and rivers from the territory of Andrijevica, Berane, and Bijelo Polje along its 83-kilometer-flow through Montenegro.  At the time of the SFRY, huge pollution began in Berane due to the release of toxins from the pulp and paper mill, which was closed at the end of the last century. The situation is now alarming near Bijelo Polje and downstream. The international river of the Danube basin then passes through Serbia and Bosnia and Hercegovina, and at the 220th kilometer, it flows into the Drina.

EPA's State of the Environment Report from 2018, states that the river below Bijelo Polje is "out of all prescribed classes" and "not usable", while “the pollution has been recorded through the content of phosphates, nitrites, TOC and the Ca/Mg ionic ratio”.

This was recently confirmed by a team of experts from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics from Podgorica. A study of the ecosystems of the rivers Lim, Ljubovidja, and Bistrica, published at the end of January, shows that the pollution was mostly caused by industrial and communal waters, while poaching also contributed to the depletion of fish stocks.

The study was initiated by the local government after a large quantity of fish die-off due to the wastewater spills on September 2, 2019. Like numerous reports, this one is also in the investigation phase.

On February 28, 2020, the police, in cooperation with the Environmental, Agricultural, and Water Management Inspection, filed a criminal complaint with the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje against "Mesopromet" LLC and the responsible person HF (33), as well as against the company "Milka MDK" LLC and Manager M.Ć. (31).

Even after several attempts, ''Mesopromet" did not want to comment on this for CIN-CG, and "Milka MDK" said that they did not feel responsible.

“It is a long-lasting process, but we will try to prove that we are not responsible for the fish die-off ", Ivan Žunić, the executive director of "Milka MDK ", said.

Two and a half months after this incident, there was another, when black liquid was noticed in the Lim, due to which a criminal charge was filed against unknown persons. An investigation is still underway.

Long-lasting and dedicated devastation of a river: Danilo Mrdak, an ichthyologist, a professor at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and a member of the team that worked on the study, claims that devastation of the Lim was ''long-lasting and dedicated process.''

"Complete negligence comes to the surface only when dead fish start to float. Then people start wondering what is going on, the local fishing societies make their voices heard, videos and photos get viral on social networks, and the media starts reporting. This is a reflection of decades of negligence since it is assumed that the running water will carry it all away.  This is what happens when there is no more room for all the waste and toxins," Mrdak told CIN-CG.

He points out that due to the pollution, "trout become so rare that it can be considered endangered".

"Species that are more tolerant of pollution and reduced oxygen are multiplying, which supports the thesis that fish community structure has changed. The good thing is that these changes are reversible so when the situation improves, the fish that are now rare or non-existent will return," Mrdak said.

An indicator of pollution, he says, is the appearance of invertebrates, in science known species from the group Oligochetae, Diptera, and Nematoda, which develop in such an environment.

In the Analysis of Water Pollution in the Lim conducted during 2015 and 2016, environmentalist Danijela Veličković found heavy metals, iron, copper, and zinc in the common nase and chub. There were about 57.5 milligrams of iron per kilogram in the muscle tissue, which is above the limit value of the Montenegrin rulebook on the quality and content of heavy substances, mycotoxins, and other toxins in food.

Veličković is also a member of the commission that worked on the Local Environmental Action Plan of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje 2019-2023 (LEAP) that concluded that “the Lim is the most polluted and neglected watercourse in the country.”

She says that the biggest polluters are livestock and chicken farms, slaughterhouses, households, gravel and sand mines, printing houses, and dairies.

"When large amounts of untreated municipal and industrial wastewater are poured into rivers, as in our country, there is a significant disturbance of the natural balance and pollution dangerous to the health of the population," Veličković says.

In the area of Berane, 42 unregulated construction and municipal landfills were listed on the banks of the river last year, while data on other types of waste are missing. The Catalog of illegal landfills in Bijelo Polje registered more than 230 of these landfills with all types of waste, except medical.

Verbal consent: According to the data of the Water Administration, the following companies: "Mesopromet", "Eko-meso" and "MI Burko" have temporary water permits for discharging technological wastewater in the Lim. These companies are obliged to examine the quality and quantity of wastewater. The others are not, so it is unknown what is disposed into the river.

According to the documentation provided to the CIN-CG's journalist in the premises of the Water Administration, the water permit was issued to "MI Burko" despite the untested operation of the treatment plant, due to, as stated, inaccessible terrain. This is contrary to the Rulebook on Issuing Water Acts because the commissions of the Administration should check the functioning of the plants for all companies that have been issued a water permit.

Public water and sewage utility "Bistrica" in Bijelo Polje, a town where according to the latest census 46 thousand inhabitants live, does not have a water permit for wastewater discharge, while the sewage system for collecting and draining wastewater is used by 16 thousand people, i.e. 32.5 percent. The report on the work of "Bistrica" for 2018 shows that the sewerage network is 40 to 55 years old, built of almost all known materials, steel, cast iron, PVC, polyethylene, zinc….

The director of "Bistrica", Mladen Bulatović, says for CIN-CG that "conditions must be created to implement the laws that regulate water area". A wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), is necessary. Its construction was planned for 2019, but it was postponed because there was no money. It was planned to cover the urban and industrial zone, i.e. the left bank of the Lim, which is the equivalent of 20 thousand citizens.

The LEAP also states that "an on-site inspection identified about 500 locations of sanitary wastewater discharges, and due to branches and vegetation on the Lim and tributaries, it is impossible to find every sewer pipe."

From 2015 to 2020, the water inspector issued 21 decisions to obtain water permits. Four companies, whose names the Inspection Directorate refused to disclose, were fined five hundred Euros each and given a deadline to obtain it. Three companies do not have it yet, so they were fined a thousand Euros.

The cadastre of potential pollutants, derived from LEAP, states that a dairy "Milka MDK", two chicken farms "Beganović", printing houses "Mercator" and "Pegaz", two wood processing companies "Brenta" ”, Ltd "Selector", "Bau Center" and "Gradišta Komerc" do not have water treatment plants.

CIN-CG's journalist saw drain pipes in front of companies and farms that do not have a wastewater discharge permit.

Among them, there are two chicken farms "Beganović" in Bijelo Polje. Authorized representative and founder Senad Beganovic refused to answer a CIN-CG's question on how he plans to protect the river.

Close to the car service and the vehicle technical inspection station "Wagen", the journalist also noticed two exhaust pipes. Traces of black liquid were also noticeable from one of them. The executive director of the company, Refik Kasumović, claims that it was not released from the company's premises.

“We are not an ordinary car service, and our wastewater cannot significantly pollute the Lim. Both pipes are sewage pipes and wastewater from the car service goes to the pool, which is regularly emptied, and it is performed by the utility company ", Kasumović said. Water and Sewer Utility confirmed to CIN-CG that wastewater from this and all empty basins is discharged into the river.

Wastewater and organic waste are located in front of the farm "Franca Oluja" on the land near the Lim. Company “Mesopromet” whose farm this is, refused to answer CIN-CG's questions.

"We do not have wastewater treatment plants, and we are not planning to build them, because there is no need.  All our technological wastewater is collected and transported by the company for sanitary and environmental protection "Hemosan" from Bar", Zoran Loktionov, the owner of the printing house "Pegaz ", claims for CIN-CG. However, "Hemosan" told CIN-CG that they have nothing to do with the wastewater from “Pegaz”, and that in a certain period in 2019, they took away the packaging and paints.

Loktionov paid a fine of 1,200 Euros for spilling red paint from the company "Pegaz" in the tributary Lješnica, and then in the Lim on March 22, 2019. The company claimed that it was an employee's mistake.

The director of "Milka MDK", Ivan Žunić, said that the wastewater from the dairy flows into the common manhole of the sewage drain and it is thus treated.

"That is the problem that should be solved by the city sewage system to which we are connected. We regularly pay for the sewerage, 50 percent of the used water ", Žunić said. According to him, the dairy has had the same products for 40 years, they have never polluted the river, but they will still build treatment plants, when money from the European program for rural development IPARD, with 50 percent non-refundable support, is approved.

According to the regulations derived from the Law on Waters, "Milka MDK" should have a water permit for the discharge of wastewater, and the inspection should punish those who do not have it.

The other seven companies from the Cadastre of Potential Pollutants from Bijelo Polje, "Fishpond Kasumović", car wash "Damjanović", "Optikon Bistrica", PI "General Hospital", Health center, butcher "Denko" and "Mesopromet" have treatment plants, but Veličković still has objections.

"They have certain plants, sedimentation tanks, pits, manholes for primary wastewater treatment, so the inspection should check the work of those plants," Veličković says.

A bad example is a hospital in Bijelo Polje, from which sanitary and fecal waters go to a sedimentation tank, built in 1975 and reconstructed in 1999, and so insufficiently purified flow into the Lim.

"Wastewater from the nursing home and one part of the settlement is connected to the sedimentation tank, so it is difficult to determine the exact amount of fecal and wastewater," the Cadastre of Potential Pollutants states.

The hospital told CIN-CG that everything was fine with the plant, and that "other institutions should deal with its inspection and testing."

As a positive example, Veličković praises the car wash “Damjanović”, whose owner Vuk Damjanović implements good practice from Switzerland, where he lives. According to the available documents, this company uses the most modern methods of wastewater treatment.

"It is a separator with a volume of 2,000 liters, equipped with several filters, which completely clean the water and retain dirt, designed to protect the environment. We have owned the plant since the establishment and we chose it exclusively for the protection of the Lim and biodiversity ", Mirko Damjanović, the executive director of the car wash, said for CIN-CG.

Rita Bajraktarevic, an ecologist from Berane, points out that the Lim is the most polluted in the territory of Bijelo Polje because there is a larger number of polluters there. That city, unlike Berane, does not have a WWTP.

Pollution comes from neighboring countries as well: Danijela Velickovic estimates that the Lim is problematic because it is "unknown from the systemic scientific-research aspect".

"In order to talk about the degree of endangerment, it is necessary to do other analyzes in addition to the basic physical and chemical parameters: river sediments, state of fauna and flora, soil on the bottom and shore, geomorphology of the riverbed, degree of endangerment," Velickovic claims.

Everything that is thrown or dropped in Bijelo Polje easily ends up in a part of the Lim in Serbia, which is why the authors of the LEAP point out the danger of transboundary pollution in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Vladimir Malešić, a member of the Ecological Society "Friends of Sopotnica" from Prijepolje, says that "due to the great power of purification that the river has, the Lim in the territory of this municipality often belongs to classes I and II, less often at the transition to III. "

"Every high tide of water takes away, but also brings new quantities of waste, which cover the shores, while the trees are "decorated" with bags. It is obvious that huge amounts of garbage, in the part above Prijepolje, also come from Montenegro ", Malešić said.

The European Commission (EC) estimates that the level of harmonization of Montenegro with the European Union in the field of water management is still limited, and along with the climate changes it presents the weakest link, biologist Jelena Marojevic said for CIN-CG.

"The EC states that wastewater is still the largest source of river pollution in Montenegro. In this sense, more work is expected to solve the problem, especially in the process of drafting management plans for the Adriatic and Danube basins, which have been long-awaited. Montenegro needs to ensure the establishment of a water status monitoring program. Only by fulfilling the EU requirements to which we have committed ourselves, with consistent application of penal policy, raising awareness, changing bad habits and ways of doing business of some economic entities, can we expect that the condition and quality of our rivers will improve, so the Lim is no exception," Marojević concluded.

The management plan for the Danube basin, to which the Lim also belongs, is being drafted and it is expected to be completed by the Water Administration this year.

Drafting a list of pollutants takes a long time

The Environmental Protection Agency has warned several times that "the cadastre of pollutant sources, as a basic instrument in the policy of adopting measures and plans to prevent and reduce pollution, does not exist yet, so it is necessary to work on its establishment as soon as possible."

The Municipality of Berane is preparing the Local Environmental Protection Plan 2019-2023, from which the cadastre of potential polluters of this municipality could be drafted. From the available documents, as is the case in Bijelo Polje, it is not possible to conclude about the causes of pollution.

Professor Mrdak points out that the water cadastre, which, according to the law, should be managed by the Water Administration, is much more important for the water of state importance.

"I know that it does not exist yet, but that does not prevent the municipality from making its list of pollutants," Mrdak said.

The Water Administration answered CIN-CG that in October 2019, they started to make a water cadastre, but that the municipalities did not provide them with "all specific information".

"The municipality of Bijelo Polje submitted to this body the Cadastre of potential polluters. Water and Sewerage Utility of Berane gave a list of legal and natural persons who can be polluters on the territory of this municipality", it is stated in the response of the Water Administration.

One inspector cannot do everything

The most famous environmental incident on the Lim, in addition to fish die-off, is the release of red liquid in July and August 2017. The water inspector has filed two criminal charges against the unknown person, and the investigation is ongoing, the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje announced.

In October 2018, near the facility of the local meat processor, red liquid painted the Lim. A criminal complaint was filed against the unknown person, which is also in the investigation phase at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office.

From 2015 to 2020, nine criminal charges were filed on the territory of Berane. In two cases, the defendants for the disposal of municipal waste by applying the institute of deferred criminal prosecution paid 300 Euros each. Seven charges against the unknown persons for the exploitation of gravel and sand are unfinished, and many have expired. Three proceedings were initiated before the Misdemeanor Court in the same period, in one of which a fine of two hundred Euros was imposed, and two cases are still pending. The water inspector issued nine misdemeanor warrants of two hundred Euros each for illegal exploitation of river sediment.

All this is part of 520 inspection controls in five years, which were carried out by one inspector on the Lim. He also brought 21 decisions regarding the exploitation of river sediments, waste disposal, interventions in the riverbed, and the removal of sewer pipes, but as CIN-CG was informed from the Directorate for Inspection Affairs no one was punished.

The institutions in Bijelo Polje have not collected data on how many times and who has been punished for endangering the Lim, while the Communal Police from Berane issued seven misdemeanor orders for illegal dumping of waste near the river, but they avoided answering about the perpetrators and the number of fines.

Almir Mekić, director of the NGO "Euromost", on whose initiative the competent services went out on the field dozens of times, claims that reports are usually submitted when environmental incidents attract public attention. He also says that those irregularities are numerous and suggests more frequent controls.

Professor Mrdak emphasizes that "it is obvious that the sanctions did not help and that they were not enough, because last summer there would not have been a fish die-off, and the Lim would not have had such a gloomy appearance."

He estimates that more people should be involved in the supervision of rivers of state importance in the north of Montenegro.

"A complete reorganization of the water sector is needed, with the delimitation of competencies, specification of procedures, and systematization of jobs. I know that there is no hydrologist employed in the Water Administration, as well as that there is only one water inspector for the entire north, "said Mrdak.

Alisa HAJDARPAŠIĆ

Tvrđava se prodaje po cijeni od oko 26,9 miliona eura, šest puta više od iznosa za koji je prodata 2005. i to licima povezanim sa organizovanom kriminalnom grupom Svetozara Marovića. Vlada je najavila moguće kaznene procedure i pokretanje postupka zaštite imovine, što uključuje i raskide ugovora sa sadašnjim vlasnikom

U avgustu je istaknut oglas za prodaju stare austrougarske tvrđave Arza na Luštici, koja je u privatnom vlasništvu od 2005. godine, kada je tadašnji Fond za reformu sistema odbrane Državne zajednice Srbija i Crna Gora, prodao kao dio vojne imovine savezne države. Arza je samo jedna u nizu tvrđava koje se smatraju kulturnim dobrom, ali nebrigom bivše vlasti nijesu dobile taj status i nezaštićene su, a većina je prodata još za vrijeme Državne zajednice Srbija i Crna Gora.
Arza je prodata crnogorsko-ruskom konzorcijumu, koji je tada najavljivao da će na lokaciji izgraditi turistički kompleks, i investirati 100 miliona eura, ali umjesto da investiraju, do sada tamo ništa nije urađeno i vlasnici pokušavaju da je preprodaju.

Prema informacijama do kojih je došao Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo Crne Gore (CIN-CG) tvrđava sa zemljištem (ukupne površine skoro 108 hiljada kvadrata) se prodaje po cijeni od oko 26,9 miliona eura, šest puta više od iznosa za koji je kupljena 2005. godine, kada je koštala nešto manje od 4,5 miliona eura.
Prema informacijama CIN-CG-a, kupac je to što nije ulagao pravdao time da je kasnila planska dokumentacija i da je, kada je usvojena Studija lokacije, smanjena dozvoljena površina za gradnju, u odnosu na predviđenu Investicionim planom, koji je odobren potpisivanjem kupoprodajnog ugovora.

Iz Ministarstva finansija su za CIN-CG rekli da svi u čijim je rukama blago države Crne Gore moraju da ga privedu namjeni i valorizuju, ili će se, u suprotnom, ići u moguće kaznene procedure, kao i pokretanje postupka zaštite imovine, što uključuje i raskide nerealizovanih ugovora.
Ugovor, međutim, ne sadrži raskidne klauzule, što znači da se država nije zaštitila u slučaju da investitor ne ispuni obaveze.
Pravna savjetnica pri Akciji za socijalnu pravdu (ASP) Ines Mrdović za CIN-CG kaže da se prodaja tako vrijedne lokacije za samo 42 eura po kvadratu može ocijeniti klasičnom otimačinom državne imovine.

"Već deceniju i po kupac nije ispunio investicione obaveze, dok se jedan od vlasnika povezuje sa organizovanom kriminalnom grupom. Vlada bi trebalo da iskoristi Konvenciju Ujedinjenih nacija protiv korupcije, koja daje pravo državama da korupciju mogu smatrati relevantnim činiocem u postupku za poništenje ugovora ili drugog sličnog pravnog instrumenta. Ovaj štetni posao potrebno je staviti van pravnog prometa i pokrenuti pravnu proceduru za vraćanje lokacije u državno vlasništvo", rekla je Mrdović.

Crna Gora je Konvenciju ratifikovala 2006. godine.

Arza je u katastru upisana kao stambena zgrada od 430 kvadrata, stečena kupovinom. Tvrđava i zemljište, na atraktivnoj lokaciji uz more, je upisana na budvansku kompaniju RCG Invest u vlasništvu Rusa Vadima Ogorodova (50 odsto), dok po oko 16,6 odsto imaju Latinovići - Mirko, Olgica i Maja.

Beogradski biznismen Mirko Latinović je bio svjedok saradnik u više krivičnih postupaka koji su se vodili protiv organizovane kriminalne grupe u Budvi, na čijem je čelu bio funkcioner DPS-a Svetozar Marović, koji je bio na čelu Državne zajednice SCG u vrijeme rasprodaje vojne imovine i Arze. Latinović, koji posluje i u Rusiji, je u tužilaštvu priznao da je bio dio te kriminalne grupe.
Latinović je, odnosno njegovo preduzeće Tradeunique, bio partner Marovića u brojnim poslovima u Budvi, među kojima je i izgradnja TQ Plaze. Tim poslom Opština Budva oštećena je za oko 20 miliona eura. Nakon sporazuma potpisanih sa Specijalnim državnim tužilaštvom (SDT), na ime odštete od 19,5 miliona eura, Opštini Budva pripalo je 8.129 kvadrata prostora, uglavnom u nedovršenom dijelu.

SDT je 2015. blokiralo kompletnu imovinu Latinovića u Budvi za koju se sumnjalo da potiče od kriminala i nakon TQ Plaze, zabranjeno mu je raspolaganje i rezidencijalnim kompleksom od 36 vila iznad Svetog Stefana, poznatijim kao Rusko selo, kao i sa tri apartmana u Splendidu. Među blokiranom imovinom nije tvrđava Arza.

OGLAS NA TVRĐAVI POKRENUO VLADU

Na društvenim mrežama se u avgustu pojavio oglas za prodaju Arza, nekada u vlasništvu Vojske Jugoslavije, sa brojem telefona 069 757 542, istaknutim na tvrđavi. Korisnici društvenih mreža pitali su da li je Arza zajedno sa Mamulom na prodaju. Ostrvo Lastavica sa tvrđavom Mamula dato je 2015. godine u zakup na 45 godina, kompaniji Orascom egipatskog biznismena Samiha Savirisa, koji na dijelu poluostrva Luštica gradi turistički kompleks.

Informaciju o prodaji Arze prenijeli su i regionalni mediji, a neki su se pitali da li je to performans ili se radi o stvarnoj prodaji.

Reagovao je i ministar finansija i socijalnog staranja Milojko Spajić koji je na Twitteru napisao da mu se na dati broj telefona niko ne javlja.

,,Provjerićemo vlasništvo. Poslije decenija raspikućstva država bi trebalo da preuzme ovakva kulturna bogatstva i da ih valorizuje kako treba. I to će uraditi novcem koji ste vi građani preko računa sa QR kodovima finansirali", poručio je Spajić.
Zaštitnica imovinsko pravnih interesa Crne Gore Bojana Ćirović za CIN-CG je kazala da još nije dobila zahtjev za pokretanje spora u vezi sa vraćanjem tvrđave Arza u vlasništvo države.

Ines Mrdović navodi da je ugovor morao imati zaštitne klauzule, ali je i ovo na žalost prodato po obrascu po kojem se investitoru dozvoljava da se upiše na vrijednu lokaciju prije nego što realizuje investicioni program, pa ako ne dođe do potrebnog novca, pokušaće višestruko skuplje da je proda.

Iz Ministarstva finansija poručuju da se Spajić zalaže da, ako onaj kome je prodata ili data u zakup imovina države ne poštuje ugovorene obaveze i ne upravlja njome u interesu i na ponos Crne Gore, da se svi takvi slučajevi ispitaju i potom preduzmu aktivnosti u skladu sa utvrđenim stanjem.

,,U tom kontekstu, ministar je odgovorno reagovao na postavljeni transparent sa telefonskim brojem za prodaju tvrđave Arza i upozorio da su nedopustivi ovakvi i slični prizori, a nakon što sve bude utvrđeno odrediće se Vlada. Ovo nije bio prvi put da se pojavljuju oglasi za prodaju značajnog objekta koji ima karakteristike kulturno-istorijskog spomenika, a da bivša vlast nije uradila ništa u cilju njegove zaštite, posebno imajući u vidu da deceniju i po nema ulaganja i valorizacije", rekli su za CIN-CG iz Ministarstva.

OD 120 TVRĐAVA ZAŠTIĆENO SAMO PET

Da prethodna vlast nije zaštitila kulturno blago Crne Gore kažu i u NVO Expeditio i Upravi za zaštitu kulturnih dobara.

"Država je propustila da zaštiti, ne samo Arzu, već i mnoge druge tvrđave nastale u austrougarskom periodu. Od ukupno oko 120 tvrđava i vojnih objekata iz ovog perioda, koji su identifikovani na teritoriji Crne Gore, nedopustivo mali broj njih, samo pet, je zaštićeno kao kulturno dobro", kazali su za CIN-CG iz NVO Expeditio.

To su, kako su naveli, tvrđave Kosmač, Mamula i Goražda, kao i Forte Mare i Španjola koje su nastale ranije, ali su transformisane u austrougarskom periodu.

"Pitanje vlasništva nije ključno za zaštitu, jer kulturna dobra, kao valorizovani dio kulturne baštine od opšteg interesa, prema zakonu moraju da se štite bez obzira u čijem su vlasništvu", rekli su iz Expeditia.

V.d. direktora Uprave za zaštitu kulturnih dobara Mladen Zagarčanin za CIN-CG kaže da je problem što je nakon smjene vlasti u zaštiti kulturnih dobara zatečena situacija "koja teško da može da se objasni".

"Riječ je o tome da nam vrijeme za revalorizaciju kulturnih dobara ističe, a bez toga ne možemo da krenemo u proces valorizacije i stavljanja Arze (i drugih spomenika koji to zaslužuju) pod zaštitu", rekao je Zagarčanin koji je u julu ove godine imenovan za v.d. direktora Uprave.

Kazao je da ako stignu da završe revalorizaciju (ponovno procjenjivanje vrijednosti) uslijediće vrednovanje Arze i ona će dobiti status kulturnog dobra, a to će uraditi i za još nekoliko drugih značajnih fortifikacija i spomenika kulture.

VLASNIK SE OGRADIO, A OGLAS NA SAJTU NJEGOVE KOMPANIJE

Tvrđava Arza i pripadajuće zemljište prodaju se od 2019. kada se oglas prvi put pojavio na sajtovima agencija za nekretnine.

Oglas se više ne nalazi na sajtovima agencija za nekretnine, ali se može naći na internet stranici kompanije Montenegro Land, čiji je većinski vlasnik Vadim Ogorodov (78 odsto), jedan od vlasnika RCG Investa. Victor Kyalov ima 21,78 odsto. Ogorodov je bio izvršni direktor RCG Investa u vrijeme kupovine Arze.

Na sajtu Montenegro landa se nalazi broj telefona 069 757 542, koji je bio na istaknut na tvrđavi, a od kojeg se vlasnik Arze ogradio.

RCG Invest je nakon reakcije javnosti na novi oglas za prodaju tvrđave, u saopštenju naveo da osuđuje postupak "nepoznatih pojedinaca" koji su mimo njihovog znanja na austrougarsku tvrđavu Arza, na poluostrvu Luštica, postavili transparent sa brojem telefona.

"Odmah nakon što smo ujutru vidjeli da je neko postavio transparent, on je uklonjen. Smatramo da je posrijedi nečija provokacija, zato se kompanija RCG Invest ograđuje od ovakvih postupaka. Objavljivanjem fotografija na kojima se vidi broj telefona napravljena je šteta našoj kompaniji, zato i želimo javnost upoznati da mi nijesmo inicijatori", naveli su iz kompanije.

Iz Montenegro Landa nijesu odgovorili na pitanja CIN-CG-a od kada se prodaje tvrđava Arza, u čije ime je prodaju i ima li interesovanja za kupovinu. Na pitanja nijesu odgovorili ni iz kompanije Tradeunique, koja je suvlasnik Arze.

Na sajtu piše da se zemljište površine 107.858 kvadrata (uključujući plažu i tvrđavu) prodaje za 26.964.500 eura ili 250 eura po kvadratu.

"Parcela je bila kupljena 2005. godine na međunarodnom tenderu, čijim uslovima je bilo predviđeno ciljno korišćenje teritorije – hotelski kompleks sa pet zvjezdica, sa individualnim vilama i jahting-klubom. Zemljište se nalazi u vlasništvu crnogorske kompanije. Idealno mjesto za smještaj turističkog kompleksa najviše kategorije sa vlastitom plažom, marinom za jahte i neophodnim objektima infrastrukture", navodi se u oglasu.

Na sajtu piše i da se projektom predviđa izgradnja hotela sa pet zvjezdica kapaciteta oko 200 soba, vlastitog jahting-kluba i keja.

"Na teritoriji se planira razmještaj nekoliko restorana, kafića i barova, spa-centara, sportskih objekata, bazena i tri plažne zone. Kao dopuna hotelu biće izgrađen kompleks apartmana od četiri do šest etaža i oko 30 vila", navodi se na sajtu, iako je planskom dokumentacijom predviđena manja izgradnja.

STUDIJA USVOJENA SEDAM GODINA NAKON TENDERA

Prema nezvaničnim informacijama CIN-CG, vlasnik još od 2005. godine nije mogao da sprovede investicioni program zbog nepostojanja planske dokumentacije, potrebne za podnošenje zahtjeva za građevinsku dozvolu.

Zemljište je kupljeno na međunarodnom tenderu 2005. i neodvojivi dio kupoprodajnog ugovora je investicioni program.

Članom 9 Ugovora se predviđa da je kupac dužan da u roku od 21 mjesec od dana dobijanja građevinske dozvole izvrši svoje obaveze, navedene u investicionom programu.

Međutim, prema nezvaničnim izvorima, Vlada nije stvorila uslove za pribavljanje građevinske dozvole, a da je javna rasprava o Prostornom planu posebne namjene morskog dobra završena 21. februara 2005. a tender je raspisan tri dana kasnije (24. februara) "što ukazuje na kontradiktornosti u sprovođenju tendera i lišavanja investitora mogućnosti da podnese inicijativu za unošenje investicionog programa u planski dokument".

Državna studija lokacije za sektor 34, kojem pripada Arza, donijeta je 2012. godine, sedam godina nakon tendera.

Od ukupne površine od 107.858 kvadratnih metara, izgradnja je predviđena samo na izdvojenim urbanističkom parcelama od 12.597 kvadrata sa koeficijentom izgrađenosti 0,8 (63 sobe sa 126 ležajeva) i od 8.936 kvadrata sa koeficijentom 0,4 (12 vila sa 72 ležaja), što je u cjelini višestruko manje od parametara investicionog programa.

U toku javne rasprave investitor je podnosio inicijative za izmjene i Studije lokacije i Prostornog plana obalnog poručja, ali su sve odbijene.

CIN-CG saznaje da kupac sada ponovo traži izmjenu planske dokumentacije.

Tvrđava Arza Studijom lokacije je zaštićena u dijelu očuvanja oblika, gabarita i rasporeda, kao i funkcionalna namjena kulturnog karaktera tvrđave.

RCG Investu je blokiran račun jer, prema nezvaničnim informacijama, Uprava javnih prihoda je obračunala porez na cjelokupno zemljište kao neizgrađeno građevinsko zemljište, uključujući parcele na kojima planskim dokumentom nije predviđena gradnja. Takođe, vlasnik objekta tokom 15 godina je o svom trošku očistio, održavao i čuvao objekat.

DRŽAVA DA ISKORISTI PRAVO PREČE KUPOVINE

Mladen Zagarčanin za CIN-CG kaže da se tvrđava Arza ne može prodati bez poštovanja zakonske procedure koja se odnosi na pravo preče kupovine.

Podsjeća da se Arza nalazi u okviru zaštićene okoline Prirodnog i kulturno-istorijskog područja Kotora i da sve intervencije na tvrđavi moraju da se planiraju u saradnji sa Upravom za zaštitu kulturnih dobara.

Kaže da pod zaštitu treba staviti mnogo drugih vrijednih fortifikacija i spomenika, od praistorije do novog doba.

"Na primjer, srednjovjekovna utvrđenja Bihor i Soko grad, ili turska i austrougarska utvrđenjana na Golom brdu kod Sutomora, na Sutormanu, Vrmcu, Trojici i mnogo drugih. Ta spomenička blaga treba što prije valorizovati, a naravno tu je i još nekoliko izuzetnih spomenika kulture koji moraju da dobiju status kulturnog dobra", rekao je Zagarčanin.

Tvrđava Arza još odolijeva vremenu, mada se na njenom vrhu vidi da je kamenje počelo da se osipa. Do tvrđave se može doći, ali su njena vrata zaključana, kako bi se njena unutrašnjost sačuvala od neodgovornih posjetilaca, koji su ispisali grafite po spoljnim zidovima.

Prostor oko Arze je nenaseljen, a u blizini se nalazi popularna plaža Mirišta.

ARZA OTIŠLA U TOKU RASPRODAJE IMOVINE VOJSKE SCG

Kompleks Donja Arza sa tvrđavom, prodat je u septembru 2005. godine za 4.495.822 eura, a kupac je bio konzorcijum u sastavu: VEK (ZAO) Moskva – Akcionarska komercijalna banka, ZAO trust Koksokhimmontazh Moskva (u vlasništvu više ruskih građana), Tradeunique CG Budva i RCG Invest Herceg Novi.

U uvodnim napomenama ugovora navedeno je da je Zaključkom Vlade Crne Gore od 15. jula 2005. godine Fondu za reformu sistema odbrane Državne zajednice Srbija i Crna Gora ustupljena vojna nepokretnost Donja Arza radi prodaje.

Kupac je ubrzo nakon toga naljutio mještane postavljajući obezbjeđenje koje je nekoliko godina zabranjivalo slobodan prolaz putem, koji je državno vlasništvo, do plaža.

Na tom području više nema obezbjeđenja.

Prije prodaje Arza je očišćena od radioaktivnog otpada, nastalog od projektila sa osiromašenim uranijumom, koji su tokom NATO intervencije 1999. godine bačeni na to područje.

Ugovor o prodaji Arze potpisao je tadašnji ministar odbrane Prvoslav Davinić u ime Državne zajednice i direktor Fonda za reformu sistema odbrane Vladan Živulović. Predsjednik SCG i Vrhovnog savjeta odbrane tada je bio Svetozar Marović, koji je 2016. osuđen kao vođa kriminalne grupe za višemilionsku štetu po gradski budžet Budve. Posljednje četiri godine je Marović u bijegu, a njegovi advokati su saopštavali da se u Srbiji liječi od depresije.

Davinić je zbog afera u vezi sa tenderima za prodaju vojne imovine zajedničke države početkom septembra 2005. podnio ostavku, a bio je glavni okrivljeni u šest velikih sudskih afera: "Pancir", "Satelit", "Barkasa", nenamjensko trošenje budžeta, kupovine vojnih stanova i prodaje vojnog naoružanja. On je krajem 2020. godine oslobođen optužbi za zloupotrebu službenog položaja prilikom kupovine vojnih stanova i prodaje vojnog naoružanja.

NE ZNAJU GDJE JE NOVAC OD PRODAJE

Iz Ministarstva odbrane Crne Gore za CIN-CG su rekli da su, prema dokumentaciji kojom raspolažu, preko Fonda za reformu sistema odbrane SCG prodate vojne lokacije Glavati Muo i Platamuni u Kotoru, u Herceg Novom Klub Vojske, Donja Arza, Kabala for, Lazine for, Oskoruša for, Brežino, Ubojno i Marka Cara u Budvi Skočiđevojka, a u Podgorici sjeverni dio kasarne "Morača".
"Želimo da istaknemo da ne posjedujemo dokumentaciju formiranu u predmetima prodaje gore navedenih vojnih nepokretnosti, kao ni ugovore o kupoprodaji. Ministarstvo odbrane nije bilo nadležno da prati realizaciju ovih ugovora, te samim tim ne posjedujemo informacije o prihodima koji su ostvareni od njihove prodaje", rekli su iz Ministarstva odgovarajući na pitanje CIN-CG gdje su išle pare od prodaje vojne imovine.

NEKA DOBRA MOGU OSTATI NEZAŠTIĆENA

Zagarčanin je podsjetio da je shodno Zakonu o zaštiti kulturnih dobara ponovna procjena vrijednosti kulturnih dobara (revalorizacija) trebalo da se završi do avgusta 2013.
"Na osnovu predatih elaborata nijesu mogla da se urade rješenja o zaštiti (nije predato 388 elaborata), iako se tada likovalo da je revalorizacija uspješno završena i da je nakon potrošenih oko milion eura (a suma se nikada neće tačno znati) nije završena niti revalorizacija niti upis u centralni registar. Primjera radi od pokretnih kulturnih dobara upisana je samo ikona Bogorodice Filermose, i to skoro", navodi Zagarčanin.
Dopunom Zakona o zaštiti kulturnih dobara iz jula 2017. godine počela je nova revalorizacija oročena na pet godina. Rok za završetak je jul 2022. godine.
Zagarčanin kaže da je 2017. godine napravljen pokušaj da se iskoristi materijal iz prethodne revalorizacije, a rezultat su četiri revalorizovana spomenika kulture: Stari grad Bar sa čaršijom i podgrađem, Stari grad Ulcinj, Bedemi sa bastionima i Stari grad Budva i Sveti Stefan.
"Ako je zakonski revalorizacija počela avgusta 2010. prošlo je 11 godina, a sada je treba završiti za 11 mjeseci. Ako ne završimo revalorizaciju mi ćemo imati pravno nezaštićena kulturna dobra", upozorio je Zagarčanin.

CITADELU RAZMIJENILI PRIJE 30 GODINA

Da su bivšoj vlasti bili najvažniji lični interesi pokazuje i primjer srednjovjekovne tvrđave i kulturno-istorijskog spomenika Citadela u Starom gradu.
Citadelu je 1992. godine tadašnje savezno Ministarstvo odbrane, koje je bilo vlasnik srednjovjekovnog utvrđenja, odlučilo da razmijeni sa budvanskom kompanijom Imobilia, u vlasništvu Branka Ćupića, za stambene prostore u Tivtu od oko 700 kvadrata.
Sekretarijat za zaštitu imovine Opštine Budva nedavno je uputio zahtjev zaštitniku imovinsko pravnih interesa Crne Gore da hitno pokrene postupak poništenja ugovora.

Branko Ćupić je jedan od "pobjednika" tranzicije, kontroverzni biznismen koji se u javnosti pominje kao poslovni prijatelj Svetozara Marovića. Ćupić je vlasnik Iberostar hotelske grupe iz Budve, tri stare palate u Boki - "Tripković" u Dobroti i "Zmajević" i "Smekja" u Perastu, kao i brojnih drugih nekretnina na primorju.
Javnost nikada nije upoznata sa detaljima ugovora za Citadelu.

I tvrđava Lazaret u Petrovcu je prodata 2002. godine ruskim državljanima, koji su kupili i hotel "4. Jul", sadašnji Monte Casa. Lazaret je nacionalizovana imovina imućne petrovačke porodice Zuber, čiji potomci traže od države da im vrati oduzetu imovina.

Biljana MATIJAŠEVIĆ

Tvrđava se prodaje po cijeni od oko 26,9 miliona eura, šest puta više od iznosa za koji je prodata 2005. i to licima povezanim sa organizovanom kriminalnom grupom Svetozara Marovića. Vlada je najavila moguće kaznene procedure i pokretanje postupka zaštite imovine, što uključuje i raskide ugovora sa sadašnjim vlasnikom

U avgustu je istaknut oglas za prodaju stare austrougarske tvrđave Arza na Luštici, koja je u privatnom vlasništvu od 2005. godine, kada je tadašnji Fond za reformu sistema odbrane Državne zajednice Srbija i Crna Gora, prodao kao dio vojne imovine savezne države. Arza je samo jedna u nizu tvrđava koje se smatraju kulturnim dobrom, ali nebrigom bivše vlasti nijesu dobile taj status i nezaštićene su, a većina je prodata još za vrijeme Državne zajednice Srbija i Crna Gora.
Arza je prodata crnogorsko-ruskom konzorcijumu, koji je tada najavljivao da će na lokaciji izgraditi turistički kompleks, i investirati 100 miliona eura, ali umjesto da investiraju, do sada tamo ništa nije urađeno i vlasnici pokušavaju da je preprodaju.

Prema informacijama do kojih je došao Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo Crne Gore (CIN-CG) tvrđava sa zemljištem (ukupne površine skoro 108 hiljada kvadrata) se prodaje po cijeni od oko 26,9 miliona eura, šest puta više od iznosa za koji je kupljena 2005. godine, kada je koštala nešto manje od 4,5 miliona eura.
Prema informacijama CIN-CG-a, kupac je to što nije ulagao pravdao time da je kasnila planska dokumentacija i da je, kada je usvojena Studija lokacije, smanjena dozvoljena površina za gradnju, u odnosu na predviđenu Investicionim planom, koji je odobren potpisivanjem kupoprodajnog ugovora.

Iz Ministarstva finansija su za CIN-CG rekli da svi u čijim je rukama blago države Crne Gore moraju da ga privedu namjeni i valorizuju, ili će se, u suprotnom, ići u moguće kaznene procedure, kao i pokretanje postupka zaštite imovine, što uključuje i raskide nerealizovanih ugovora.
Ugovor, međutim, ne sadrži raskidne klauzule, što znači da se država nije zaštitila u slučaju da investitor ne ispuni obaveze.
Pravna savjetnica pri Akciji za socijalnu pravdu (ASP) Ines Mrdović za CIN-CG kaže da se prodaja tako vrijedne lokacije za samo 42 eura po kvadratu može ocijeniti klasičnom otimačinom državne imovine.

"Već deceniju i po kupac nije ispunio investicione obaveze, dok se jedan od vlasnika povezuje sa organizovanom kriminalnom grupom. Vlada bi trebalo da iskoristi Konvenciju Ujedinjenih nacija protiv korupcije, koja daje pravo državama da korupciju mogu smatrati relevantnim činiocem u postupku za poništenje ugovora ili drugog sličnog pravnog instrumenta. Ovaj štetni posao potrebno je staviti van pravnog prometa i pokrenuti pravnu proceduru za vraćanje lokacije u državno vlasništvo", rekla je Mrdović.

Crna Gora je Konvenciju ratifikovala 2006. godine.

Arza je u katastru upisana kao stambena zgrada od 430 kvadrata, stečena kupovinom. Tvrđava i zemljište, na atraktivnoj lokaciji uz more, je upisana na budvansku kompaniju RCG Invest u vlasništvu Rusa Vadima Ogorodova (50 odsto), dok po oko 16,6 odsto imaju Latinovići - Mirko, Olgica i Maja.

Beogradski biznismen Mirko Latinović je bio svjedok saradnik u više krivičnih postupaka koji su se vodili protiv organizovane kriminalne grupe u Budvi, na čijem je čelu bio funkcioner DPS-a Svetozar Marović, koji je bio na čelu Državne zajednice SCG u vrijeme rasprodaje vojne imovine i Arze. Latinović, koji posluje i u Rusiji, je u tužilaštvu priznao da je bio dio te kriminalne grupe.
Latinović je, odnosno njegovo preduzeće Tradeunique, bio partner Marovića u brojnim poslovima u Budvi, među kojima je i izgradnja TQ Plaze. Tim poslom Opština Budva oštećena je za oko 20 miliona eura. Nakon sporazuma potpisanih sa Specijalnim državnim tužilaštvom (SDT), na ime odštete od 19,5 miliona eura, Opštini Budva pripalo je 8.129 kvadrata prostora, uglavnom u nedovršenom dijelu.

SDT je 2015. blokiralo kompletnu imovinu Latinovića u Budvi za koju se sumnjalo da potiče od kriminala i nakon TQ Plaze, zabranjeno mu je raspolaganje i rezidencijalnim kompleksom od 36 vila iznad Svetog Stefana, poznatijim kao Rusko selo, kao i sa tri apartmana u Splendidu. Među blokiranom imovinom nije tvrđava Arza.

OGLAS NA TVRĐAVI POKRENUO VLADU

Na društvenim mrežama se u avgustu pojavio oglas za prodaju Arza, nekada u vlasništvu Vojske Jugoslavije, sa brojem telefona 069 757 542, istaknutim na tvrđavi. Korisnici društvenih mreža pitali su da li je Arza zajedno sa Mamulom na prodaju. Ostrvo Lastavica sa tvrđavom Mamula dato je 2015. godine u zakup na 45 godina, kompaniji Orascom egipatskog biznismena Samiha Savirisa, koji na dijelu poluostrva Luštica gradi turistički kompleks.

Informaciju o prodaji Arze prenijeli su i regionalni mediji, a neki su se pitali da li je to performans ili se radi o stvarnoj prodaji.

Reagovao je i ministar finansija i socijalnog staranja Milojko Spajić koji je na Twitteru napisao da mu se na dati broj telefona niko ne javlja.

,,Provjerićemo vlasništvo. Poslije decenija raspikućstva država bi trebalo da preuzme ovakva kulturna bogatstva i da ih valorizuje kako treba. I to će uraditi novcem koji ste vi građani preko računa sa QR kodovima finansirali", poručio je Spajić.
Zaštitnica imovinsko pravnih interesa Crne Gore Bojana Ćirović za CIN-CG je kazala da još nije dobila zahtjev za pokretanje spora u vezi sa vraćanjem tvrđave Arza u vlasništvo države.

Ines Mrdović navodi da je ugovor morao imati zaštitne klauzule, ali je i ovo na žalost prodato po obrascu po kojem se investitoru dozvoljava da se upiše na vrijednu lokaciju prije nego što realizuje investicioni program, pa ako ne dođe do potrebnog novca, pokušaće višestruko skuplje da je proda.

Iz Ministarstva finansija poručuju da se Spajić zalaže da, ako onaj kome je prodata ili data u zakup imovina države ne poštuje ugovorene obaveze i ne upravlja njome u interesu i na ponos Crne Gore, da se svi takvi slučajevi ispitaju i potom preduzmu aktivnosti u skladu sa utvrđenim stanjem.

,,U tom kontekstu, ministar je odgovorno reagovao na postavljeni transparent sa telefonskim brojem za prodaju tvrđave Arza i upozorio da su nedopustivi ovakvi i slični prizori, a nakon što sve bude utvrđeno odrediće se Vlada. Ovo nije bio prvi put da se pojavljuju oglasi za prodaju značajnog objekta koji ima karakteristike kulturno-istorijskog spomenika, a da bivša vlast nije uradila ništa u cilju njegove zaštite, posebno imajući u vidu da deceniju i po nema ulaganja i valorizacije", rekli su za CIN-CG iz Ministarstva.

OD 120 TVRĐAVA ZAŠTIĆENO SAMO PET

Da prethodna vlast nije zaštitila kulturno blago Crne Gore kažu i u NVO Expeditio i Upravi za zaštitu kulturnih dobara.

"Država je propustila da zaštiti, ne samo Arzu, već i mnoge druge tvrđave nastale u austrougarskom periodu. Od ukupno oko 120 tvrđava i vojnih objekata iz ovog perioda, koji su identifikovani na teritoriji Crne Gore, nedopustivo mali broj njih, samo pet, je zaštićeno kao kulturno dobro", kazali su za CIN-CG iz NVO Expeditio.

To su, kako su naveli, tvrđave Kosmač, Mamula i Goražda, kao i Forte Mare i Španjola koje su nastale ranije, ali su transformisane u austrougarskom periodu.

"Pitanje vlasništva nije ključno za zaštitu, jer kulturna dobra, kao valorizovani dio kulturne baštine od opšteg interesa, prema zakonu moraju da se štite bez obzira u čijem su vlasništvu", rekli su iz Expeditia.

V.d. direktora Uprave za zaštitu kulturnih dobara Mladen Zagarčanin za CIN-CG kaže da je problem što je nakon smjene vlasti u zaštiti kulturnih dobara zatečena situacija "koja teško da može da se objasni".

"Riječ je o tome da nam vrijeme za revalorizaciju kulturnih dobara ističe, a bez toga ne možemo da krenemo u proces valorizacije i stavljanja Arze (i drugih spomenika koji to zaslužuju) pod zaštitu", rekao je Zagarčanin koji je u julu ove godine imenovan za v.d. direktora Uprave.

Kazao je da ako stignu da završe revalorizaciju (ponovno procjenjivanje vrijednosti) uslijediće vrednovanje Arze i ona će dobiti status kulturnog dobra, a to će uraditi i za još nekoliko drugih značajnih fortifikacija i spomenika kulture.

VLASNIK SE OGRADIO, A OGLAS NA SAJTU NJEGOVE KOMPANIJE

Tvrđava Arza i pripadajuće zemljište prodaju se od 2019. kada se oglas prvi put pojavio na sajtovima agencija za nekretnine.

Oglas se više ne nalazi na sajtovima agencija za nekretnine, ali se može naći na internet stranici kompanije Montenegro Land, čiji je većinski vlasnik Vadim Ogorodov (78 odsto), jedan od vlasnika RCG Investa. Victor Kyalov ima 21,78 odsto. Ogorodov je bio izvršni direktor RCG Investa u vrijeme kupovine Arze.

Na sajtu Montenegro landa se nalazi broj telefona 069 757 542, koji je bio na istaknut na tvrđavi, a od kojeg se vlasnik Arze ogradio.

RCG Invest je nakon reakcije javnosti na novi oglas za prodaju tvrđave, u saopštenju naveo da osuđuje postupak "nepoznatih pojedinaca" koji su mimo njihovog znanja na austrougarsku tvrđavu Arza, na poluostrvu Luštica, postavili transparent sa brojem telefona.

"Odmah nakon što smo ujutru vidjeli da je neko postavio transparent, on je uklonjen. Smatramo da je posrijedi nečija provokacija, zato se kompanija RCG Invest ograđuje od ovakvih postupaka. Objavljivanjem fotografija na kojima se vidi broj telefona napravljena je šteta našoj kompaniji, zato i želimo javnost upoznati da mi nijesmo inicijatori", naveli su iz kompanije.

Iz Montenegro Landa nijesu odgovorili na pitanja CIN-CG-a od kada se prodaje tvrđava Arza, u čije ime je prodaju i ima li interesovanja za kupovinu. Na pitanja nijesu odgovorili ni iz kompanije Tradeunique, koja je suvlasnik Arze.

Na sajtu piše da se zemljište površine 107.858 kvadrata (uključujući plažu i tvrđavu) prodaje za 26.964.500 eura ili 250 eura po kvadratu.

"Parcela je bila kupljena 2005. godine na međunarodnom tenderu, čijim uslovima je bilo predviđeno ciljno korišćenje teritorije – hotelski kompleks sa pet zvjezdica, sa individualnim vilama i jahting-klubom. Zemljište se nalazi u vlasništvu crnogorske kompanije. Idealno mjesto za smještaj turističkog kompleksa najviše kategorije sa vlastitom plažom, marinom za jahte i neophodnim objektima infrastrukture", navodi se u oglasu.

Na sajtu piše i da se projektom predviđa izgradnja hotela sa pet zvjezdica kapaciteta oko 200 soba, vlastitog jahting-kluba i keja.

"Na teritoriji se planira razmještaj nekoliko restorana, kafića i barova, spa-centara, sportskih objekata, bazena i tri plažne zone. Kao dopuna hotelu biće izgrađen kompleks apartmana od četiri do šest etaža i oko 30 vila", navodi se na sajtu, iako je planskom dokumentacijom predviđena manja izgradnja.

STUDIJA USVOJENA SEDAM GODINA NAKON TENDERA

Prema nezvaničnim informacijama CIN-CG, vlasnik još od 2005. godine nije mogao da sprovede investicioni program zbog nepostojanja planske dokumentacije, potrebne za podnošenje zahtjeva za građevinsku dozvolu.

Zemljište je kupljeno na međunarodnom tenderu 2005. i neodvojivi dio kupoprodajnog ugovora je investicioni program.

Članom 9 Ugovora se predviđa da je kupac dužan da u roku od 21 mjesec od dana dobijanja građevinske dozvole izvrši svoje obaveze, navedene u investicionom programu.

Međutim, prema nezvaničnim izvorima, Vlada nije stvorila uslove za pribavljanje građevinske dozvole, a da je javna rasprava o Prostornom planu posebne namjene morskog dobra završena 21. februara 2005. a tender je raspisan tri dana kasnije (24. februara) "što ukazuje na kontradiktornosti u sprovođenju tendera i lišavanja investitora mogućnosti da podnese inicijativu za unošenje investicionog programa u planski dokument".

Državna studija lokacije za sektor 34, kojem pripada Arza, donijeta je 2012. godine, sedam godina nakon tendera.

Od ukupne površine od 107.858 kvadratnih metara, izgradnja je predviđena samo na izdvojenim urbanističkom parcelama od 12.597 kvadrata sa koeficijentom izgrađenosti 0,8 (63 sobe sa 126 ležajeva) i od 8.936 kvadrata sa koeficijentom 0,4 (12 vila sa 72 ležaja), što je u cjelini višestruko manje od parametara investicionog programa.

U toku javne rasprave investitor je podnosio inicijative za izmjene i Studije lokacije i Prostornog plana obalnog poručja, ali su sve odbijene.

CIN-CG saznaje da kupac sada ponovo traži izmjenu planske dokumentacije.

Tvrđava Arza Studijom lokacije je zaštićena u dijelu očuvanja oblika, gabarita i rasporeda, kao i funkcionalna namjena kulturnog karaktera tvrđave.

RCG Investu je blokiran račun jer, prema nezvaničnim informacijama, Uprava javnih prihoda je obračunala porez na cjelokupno zemljište kao neizgrađeno građevinsko zemljište, uključujući parcele na kojima planskim dokumentom nije predviđena gradnja. Takođe, vlasnik objekta tokom 15 godina je o svom trošku očistio, održavao i čuvao objekat.

DRŽAVA DA ISKORISTI PRAVO PREČE KUPOVINE

Mladen Zagarčanin za CIN-CG kaže da se tvrđava Arza ne može prodati bez poštovanja zakonske procedure koja se odnosi na pravo preče kupovine.

Podsjeća da se Arza nalazi u okviru zaštićene okoline Prirodnog i kulturno-istorijskog područja Kotora i da sve intervencije na tvrđavi moraju da se planiraju u saradnji sa Upravom za zaštitu kulturnih dobara.

Kaže da pod zaštitu treba staviti mnogo drugih vrijednih fortifikacija i spomenika, od praistorije do novog doba.

"Na primjer, srednjovjekovna utvrđenja Bihor i Soko grad, ili turska i austrougarska utvrđenjana na Golom brdu kod Sutomora, na Sutormanu, Vrmcu, Trojici i mnogo drugih. Ta spomenička blaga treba što prije valorizovati, a naravno tu je i još nekoliko izuzetnih spomenika kulture koji moraju da dobiju status kulturnog dobra", rekao je Zagarčanin.

Tvrđava Arza još odolijeva vremenu, mada se na njenom vrhu vidi da je kamenje počelo da se osipa. Do tvrđave se može doći, ali su njena vrata zaključana, kako bi se njena unutrašnjost sačuvala od neodgovornih posjetilaca, koji su ispisali grafite po spoljnim zidovima.

Prostor oko Arze je nenaseljen, a u blizini se nalazi popularna plaža Mirišta.

ARZA OTIŠLA U TOKU RASPRODAJE IMOVINE VOJSKE SCG

Kompleks Donja Arza sa tvrđavom, prodat je u septembru 2005. godine za 4.495.822 eura, a kupac je bio konzorcijum u sastavu: VEK (ZAO) Moskva – Akcionarska komercijalna banka, ZAO trust Koksokhimmontazh Moskva (u vlasništvu više ruskih građana), Tradeunique CG Budva i RCG Invest Herceg Novi.

U uvodnim napomenama ugovora navedeno je da je Zaključkom Vlade Crne Gore od 15. jula 2005. godine Fondu za reformu sistema odbrane Državne zajednice Srbija i Crna Gora ustupljena vojna nepokretnost Donja Arza radi prodaje.

Kupac je ubrzo nakon toga naljutio mještane postavljajući obezbjeđenje koje je nekoliko godina zabranjivalo slobodan prolaz putem, koji je državno vlasništvo, do plaža.

Na tom području više nema obezbjeđenja.

Prije prodaje Arza je očišćena od radioaktivnog otpada, nastalog od projektila sa osiromašenim uranijumom, koji su tokom NATO intervencije 1999. godine bačeni na to područje.

Ugovor o prodaji Arze potpisao je tadašnji ministar odbrane Prvoslav Davinić u ime Državne zajednice i direktor Fonda za reformu sistema odbrane Vladan Živulović. Predsjednik SCG i Vrhovnog savjeta odbrane tada je bio Svetozar Marović, koji je 2016. osuđen kao vođa kriminalne grupe za višemilionsku štetu po gradski budžet Budve. Posljednje četiri godine je Marović u bijegu, a njegovi advokati su saopštavali da se u Srbiji liječi od depresije.

Davinić je zbog afera u vezi sa tenderima za prodaju vojne imovine zajedničke države početkom septembra 2005. podnio ostavku, a bio je glavni okrivljeni u šest velikih sudskih afera: "Pancir", "Satelit", "Barkasa", nenamjensko trošenje budžeta, kupovine vojnih stanova i prodaje vojnog naoružanja. On je krajem 2020. godine oslobođen optužbi za zloupotrebu službenog položaja prilikom kupovine vojnih stanova i prodaje vojnog naoružanja.

NE ZNAJU GDJE JE NOVAC OD PRODAJE

Iz Ministarstva odbrane Crne Gore za CIN-CG su rekli da su, prema dokumentaciji kojom raspolažu, preko Fonda za reformu sistema odbrane SCG prodate vojne lokacije Glavati Muo i Platamuni u Kotoru, u Herceg Novom Klub Vojske, Donja Arza, Kabala for, Lazine for, Oskoruša for, Brežino, Ubojno i Marka Cara u Budvi Skočiđevojka, a u Podgorici sjeverni dio kasarne "Morača".
"Želimo da istaknemo da ne posjedujemo dokumentaciju formiranu u predmetima prodaje gore navedenih vojnih nepokretnosti, kao ni ugovore o kupoprodaji. Ministarstvo odbrane nije bilo nadležno da prati realizaciju ovih ugovora, te samim tim ne posjedujemo informacije o prihodima koji su ostvareni od njihove prodaje", rekli su iz Ministarstva odgovarajući na pitanje CIN-CG gdje su išle pare od prodaje vojne imovine.

NEKA DOBRA MOGU OSTATI NEZAŠTIĆENA

Zagarčanin je podsjetio da je shodno Zakonu o zaštiti kulturnih dobara ponovna procjena vrijednosti kulturnih dobara (revalorizacija) trebalo da se završi do avgusta 2013.
"Na osnovu predatih elaborata nijesu mogla da se urade rješenja o zaštiti (nije predato 388 elaborata), iako se tada likovalo da je revalorizacija uspješno završena i da je nakon potrošenih oko milion eura (a suma se nikada neće tačno znati) nije završena niti revalorizacija niti upis u centralni registar. Primjera radi od pokretnih kulturnih dobara upisana je samo ikona Bogorodice Filermose, i to skoro", navodi Zagarčanin.
Dopunom Zakona o zaštiti kulturnih dobara iz jula 2017. godine počela je nova revalorizacija oročena na pet godina. Rok za završetak je jul 2022. godine.
Zagarčanin kaže da je 2017. godine napravljen pokušaj da se iskoristi materijal iz prethodne revalorizacije, a rezultat su četiri revalorizovana spomenika kulture: Stari grad Bar sa čaršijom i podgrađem, Stari grad Ulcinj, Bedemi sa bastionima i Stari grad Budva i Sveti Stefan.
"Ako je zakonski revalorizacija počela avgusta 2010. prošlo je 11 godina, a sada je treba završiti za 11 mjeseci. Ako ne završimo revalorizaciju mi ćemo imati pravno nezaštićena kulturna dobra", upozorio je Zagarčanin.

CITADELU RAZMIJENILI PRIJE 30 GODINA

Da su bivšoj vlasti bili najvažniji lični interesi pokazuje i primjer srednjovjekovne tvrđave i kulturno-istorijskog spomenika Citadela u Starom gradu.
Citadelu je 1992. godine tadašnje savezno Ministarstvo odbrane, koje je bilo vlasnik srednjovjekovnog utvrđenja, odlučilo da razmijeni sa budvanskom kompanijom Imobilia, u vlasništvu Branka Ćupića, za stambene prostore u Tivtu od oko 700 kvadrata.
Sekretarijat za zaštitu imovine Opštine Budva nedavno je uputio zahtjev zaštitniku imovinsko pravnih interesa Crne Gore da hitno pokrene postupak poništenja ugovora.

Branko Ćupić je jedan od "pobjednika" tranzicije, kontroverzni biznismen koji se u javnosti pominje kao poslovni prijatelj Svetozara Marovića. Ćupić je vlasnik Iberostar hotelske grupe iz Budve, tri stare palate u Boki - "Tripković" u Dobroti i "Zmajević" i "Smekja" u Perastu, kao i brojnih drugih nekretnina na primorju.
Javnost nikada nije upoznata sa detaljima ugovora za Citadelu.

I tvrđava Lazaret u Petrovcu je prodata 2002. godine ruskim državljanima, koji su kupili i hotel "4. Jul", sadašnji Monte Casa. Lazaret je nacionalizovana imovina imućne petrovačke porodice Zuber, čiji potomci traže od države da im vrati oduzetu imovina.

Biljana MATIJAŠEVIĆ

Reporting Diversity Network 2.0 is inviting CSOs; grass-root activists; human rights defenders; journalists; editors; to attend the Reporting Diversity training of trainers. The training will take place in Belgrade, between 11-13 November and will gather 30 participants from across the Western Balkans.

The organisers will ensure all necessary epidemiological measures are followed.

The participants will gain skills that will help them be more inclusive of minorities’ points of views; recognise hate speech and divisive narratives, its manifestations and be able to counter them. The three-day workshop will focus on three set of skills: campaigning, advocacy, and legal action.

The Reporting Diversity Network 2.0 aims to introduce and establish new practices of counteracting divisive media messages by providing alternative responses, demanding reaction (by the media, civil society, and/or authorities) and publicly exposing perpetrators.

This workshop is designed to equip participants with capacities, channels, resources, and methods to engage more effectively and actively and make countering irresponsible and often illegal behaviour of actors in media sphere part of their regular practice in upholding human rights, rule of law and democracy standards in the region. This entails better-informed and substantiated CSO advocacy actions aimed at achieving policy influence, but also at alternating public perceptions of irresponsible media behaviour through effective campaigns. For these reasons exactly, the Reporting Diversity ToT will focus on increasing participant's traditional and social media campaigning skills as well as advocacy skills.

All travel and accommodation costs will be covered by organisers. In case you have some specific requests related to travel and/or accommodation please let us know in advance in the comments section.

Please note that, in order to secure safe environment, each participant will be required to have proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test.

To apply, please fill in this form before October 24. Selected participants will be notified by October 29.

Reporting Diversity Network 2.0 is established by the Media Diversity Institute, Center for Investigative Journalism Montenegro, Center for Investigative Journalism Bosnia and Herzegovina, South East European Network for Profesionalization of Media, Albanian Media Institute, Institute for Communication Studies, Media Diversity Institute Western Balkans and Kosovo 2.0.

The network is established as part of the 4-year project funded by the European Union. Balkan Trust for Democracy, a project by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade.

Reporting Diversity Network 2.0 is inviting CSOs; grass-root activists; human rights defenders; journalists; editors; to attend the Reporting Diversity training of trainers. The training will take place in Belgrade, between 11-13 November and will gather 30 participants from across the Western Balkans. The organisers will ensure all necessary epidemiological measures are followed. The participants will gain skills that will help them be more inclusive of minorities’ points of views; recognise hate speech and divisive narratives, its manifestations and be able to counter them. The three-day workshop will focus on three set of skills: campaigning, advocacy, and legal action. The Reporting Diversity Network 2.0 aims to introduce and establish new practices of counteracting divisive media messages by providing alternative responses, demanding reaction (by the media, civil society, and/or authorities) and publicly exposing perpetrators. This workshop is designed to equip participants with capacities, channels, resources, and methods to engage more effectively and actively and make countering irresponsible and often illegal behaviour of actors in media sphere part of their regular practice in upholding human rights, rule of law and democracy standards in the region. This entails better-informed and substantiated CSO advocacy actions aimed at achieving policy influence, but also at alternating public perceptions of irresponsible media behaviour through effective campaigns. For these reasons exactly, the Reporting Diversity ToT will focus on increasing participant's traditional and social media campaigning skills as well as advocacy skills. All travel and accommodation costs will be covered by organisers. In case you have some specific requests related to travel and/or accommodation please let us know in advance in the comments section. Please note that, in order to secure safe environment, each participant will be required to have proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test. To apply, please fill in this form before October 24. Selected participants will be notified by October 29. Reporting Diversity Network 2.0 is established by the Media Diversity Institute, Center for Investigative Journalism Montenegro, Center for Investigative Journalism Bosnia and Herzegovina, South East European Network for Profesionalization of Media, Albanian Media Institute, Institute for Communication Studies, Media Diversity Institute Western Balkans and Kosovo 2.0. The network is established as part of the 4-year project funded by the European Union. Balkan Trust for Democracy, a project by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade.

Status Kotora na listi svjetske baštine zbog pretjetrane urbanizacije mogao bi biti ugrožen, a nadležni tvrde da je zabrana gradnje nepotrebna 

Organizacija Ujedinjenih nacija za obrazovanje, nauku i kulturu (UNESCO) preporučila je Crnoj Gori da zabrani gradnju na prostoru zaštićenog područja u Bokokotorskom zalivu, dok se ne završe Prostorno urbanistički plan (PUP) Kotora i izmijeni Menadžment plan, ali Vlada ipak nije produžila moratorijum na gradnju u decembru prošle godine.

Tada je, prema saznanjima Centra za istraživačko novinarstvo (CIN-CG), istekla odluka po kojoj je bila zabranjena gradnja u dijelu zaliva, koji je od 1979. godine pod zaštitom UNESCO-a.

Moratorijum na gradnju u tom području uveden je u martu 2017. godine, zbog višegodišnjih upozorenja UNESCO-a da bi Kotor mogao biti skinut sa liste zaštićenih područja, upravo zbog pretjerane devastacije prostora.

Prethodna Vlada je, u septembru prošle godine, usvojila PUP Kotora, ali se i dalje ne nazire kraj izrade Menadžment plana, kojim taj PUP treba da profunkcioniše u praksi.

Ni Savjet za upravljanje prirodnim i kulturno-istorijskim područjem Kotora, na čijem je čelu predsjednik opštine Kotor Vladimir Jokić, ne funkcioniše. Savjet bi trebalo da upravlja zeštićenim područjem Boke. Nakon promjene vlasti na državnom nivou, i dalje se čekaju nova imenovanja u tom tijelu, a o radu Savjeta nema nikakvih dostupnih informacija na sajtu opštine Kotor.

Iz nadležnih ministarstava i kotorske opštine za CIN-CG kažu da je UNESCO dao saglasnost na novi PUP, te da zbog toga nije ni produžen moratorijum na gradnju.

U nevladinom sektoru, međutim, ocjenjuju da je moratorijum morao biti na snazi, dok se ne izmijeni Menadžment plan, ali i da je novi PUP „izuzetno loš planski dokument“.

Izrada novog plana trajala je 12 godina, a Zakon o planiranju i izgradnji objekata koji reguliše ovu oblast je od tada promijenjen tri puta.

Ni taj novi planski dokument, međutim, ne može da spriječi gradnju onih koji su prije njegovog usvajanja dobili dozvolu, odnosno prijavili gradnju nekog objekta.

Tako ni moratorijum nije spriječio uništavanje zaštićenog ambijenta, jer se nije mogla zabraniti gradnja nečega što je „aminovano“ prije stupanja na snagu odluke o zabrani gradnje.

Tako je izgrađena plaža u Dobroti, a nastavljena je i gradnja luksuznog hotela i turističkog naselja u vlasništvu Edina Kolarevića, sestrića predsjednika Crne Gore Mila Đukanovića. 

Gradnja tog kompleksa izazvala je veliko negodovanje u Boki, jer je hotel podignut na mjestu jedne od rijetkih preostalih većih zelenih površina uz more u Dobroti, kada je posječena stoljetna hrastova šuma.

Vlasti su dozvolile i „rehabilitaciju kupališta“ koje je nekad bila manja drvena platforma na betonskim stubovima, a sada je nasuta plaža u dužini od oko 110 metara.

Iz Centra za održivi prostorni razvoj EXPEDITIO ističu da su zbog prekomjerne i neadekvatne urbanizacije potpuno devastirani djelovi ovog izuzetnog pejzaža, a najočigledniji primjeri tvde su Kostanjica i Dobrota. „Nažalost, prekomjerna i neadekvatna urbanizacija je i dalje u toku“, kaže arhitektica Biljana Gligorić, iz EXPEDITIO.

UNESCO čeka do kraja iduće godine

U izvještaju UNESCO-a, iz jula ove godine navodi se da bi ažurirani Menadžment plan upravljanja trebalo da uključi preporuke misije iz 2018. godine „tako da postane potpuno operativan instrument za efikasno upravljanje cjelokupnom imovinom i njenom tampon zonom”.

Takođe se traži da do 1.decembra 2022. država dostavi izvještaj o stanju očuvanja kulturnog dobra i sprovođenju preporuka UNESCO-a.

Ta organizacija je, u detaljnom izvještaju misije Centra za kulturnu baštinu UNESCO-a iz 2018. naglasila da moratorijum na novu izgradnju treba održavati do usvajanja prostornog plana i izmjene Menadžment plana, koje bi trebalo raditi paralelno i „koji će identifikovati ograničeni potencijal održive gradnje bez dodatnog negativnog uticaja”. 

Tada su preporučili i da se odustane od gradnje mosta na Verigama, novih puteva u Mulu, Prčanju, Stolivu i Kostanjici; da se izmijeni ili otkaže zaobilaznica za Risan i duga obilaznica za Kotor i Dobrotu; da se poništi urbanizacija u Morinju; da se ne gradi turističko selo u Glavatima; da se ograniči buduća gradnja u Mulu, Prčanju i Stolivu, ali i na južnoj strani tivatskog i hercegnovskog zaliva; da se ne gradi između Ljute i Dobrote, ali ni u Glavatima i Morinju.

Predstavnici misje su tada naglasili da su loše posljedice po zaštićeno područje istaknute posebno gradnjom u Kostanjici, realizovanim prijedlozima o lokaciji Autokamp u Dobroti i prijedlogom za Turističko selo u Glavatima – u Prčanju.

„Da bi dobro ostalo upisano na Listu svjetske baštine potrebna je drastična akcija, u najmanju ruku da Glavati i Morinj ostanu neizgrađeni”, upozorili su 2018. iz UNESCO-a.

Plan neće riješiti goruće probleme

Zaštićeni prostor Boke obuhvata jugoistočni dio zaliva od 14.600 hektara i tampon zonu od 36.491 hektara i prostire se na četiri opštine - kotorsku, tivatsku, hercegnovsku i cetinjsku.

Inžinjerka arhitekture i članica EXPEDITIO Aleksandra Kapetanović za CIN-CG ističe da, osim preporuke da se ova dva plana urade paralelno, nijesu poštovane ni preporuke da nema urbanizacije strmih padina, da nova gradnja treba da bude niske gustine, ali i da je potrebno razviti plan integrisanog saobraćaja za područje Boke.

„Iako je, na osnovu preporuka, zaobilaznica Kotor-Dobrota koja je bila u nacrtu PUP-a uklonjena, planom se i dalje predviđa urbanizacija velikog kapaciteta za područje Dobrote“, navodi Kapetanović.

Biljana Gligorić ocjenjuje i da je problem kod novog PUP-a to što značajno odstupa od standarda dobrih planerskih dokumenata „kako u svojoj strukturi koja otežava njegovo čitanje i tumačenje, zatim u nejasnim i neutemeljenim odrednicama koje u praksi bivaju teško sprovodljive ili nelogične“.

„U pitanju je dokument čiji vodeći planer nema iskustva u izradi ovih kompleksnih dokumenata“, ističe ona.

Iz EXPEDITIO ocjenjuju i da PUP nije dokument koji će značajno doprinijeti razvoju zaštićenog područja, niti će donijeti razrešjenje gorućih problema - saobraćajnog kolapsa, pretjerane urbanizacije i nepostojanja kvalitetnih novih, javnih sadržaja. „Sve što je rađeno je uglavnom bilo da bi se poštovala forma prema UNESCO-u. Suštinske aktivnosti nijesu sprovedene. Menadžmet plan je morao da bude mnogo ranije usvojen i ozbiljno i efikasno primenjivan”.

Krekić: Moratorijum je trenutno nepotreban

Arhitekta Mladen Krekić, koji je bio glavni planer novog PUP-a, priznaje da je taj dokument trebalo raditi paralelno sa Menadžment planom. Međutim, ističe da je danas gradnja u području Kotora nemoguća, dok se ne donese i taj plan.

Da li je baš tako? Gradi se ipak, potvrđuje Krekić i tamo gdje su dozvole izdate prije donošenja PUP-a, kada je u pitanju rekonstrukcija, kao i gradnja objekata koji su prošli Procjenu uticaja na baštinu (HIA).

„Moratorijum je trenutno nepotreban, jer nema logike da se blokira rekonstrukcija i gradnja objekata koji su prošli HIA. Svakako se mora raditi u skladu sa ambijentalnim prostorom“, ističe Krekić.

Krekić ocjenjuje da su novim kotorskim PUP-om poštovane skoro sve preporuke UNESCO-a, te da je ta organizacija dala saglasnost na ovaj plan.

On objašnjava da je dosta toga dovedeno u red. Nema više gradnje velike gustine stanova. Može da se gradi samo prizemlje, jedna etaža i potkrovlje. Ističe da su fiksirane visinske kvote.

„Radikalno sam smanjio svu gradnju, to se odnosi i na cijelu bafer zonu, strategija je bila minimalno povećavati građevinsko zemljište samo tamo gdje je neophodno, smanjiti gradnju stanova“, pojašnjava on.

Menadžment plan kasni zbog politike i korone

Iz Ministarstva prosvjete, nauke, kulture i sporta (MPNKS) i Ministarstva ekologije, prostornog planiranja i urbanizma (MEPG) za CIN-CG potvrđuju da je u decembru prošle godine istekao rok važenja odluke o zabrani gradnje u Kotoru.

U MEPG se pozivaju na Zakon o planiranju prostora i izgradnji objekata, prema kome je zabrana građenja vezana za izradu planskog dokumenta.

I oni objašnjavaju da odluka o zabrani gradnje nije produžavana, jer je u međuvremenu usvojen PUP Kotora, koji je u skladu sa preporukama UNESCO-a.

Stavljena je van snage, dodaju, prostorno planska dokumentacija koja nije bila usklađena sa novim planom u pogledu namjena površina i planiranih kapaciteta za izgradnju.

„Na ovaj način smanjeno je građevinsko područje, a samim tim smanjen je pritisak na Bokokotorski zaliv”, naglašava se iz tog ministarstva.

Predsjednik opštine Kotor Vladimir Jokić ocjenjuje da su stvoreni svi preduslovi da se taj prostor trajno zaštiti, a da se u isto vrijeme omogući njegov kontrolisani i održivi razvoj.

Menadžment plan je, dodaje Jokić, u procesu izrade i kada bude završen biće poslat na mišljenje UNESCO-u.

„Uprava za zaštitu kulturnih dobara izdaje uslove za manje projekte, a za svaki veći projekat UNESCO-a posredstvom HIA studije daje saglasnost”, objašnjava Jokić.

On ističe da, s obzirom na epidemiološku situaciju koja je pratila ovu godinu, grupa za izradu Menadžment plana nije sastajala uživo, već je obavljala online konsultacije, ali se sastanak očekuje u najskorijem roku.

Iz MPNKS, međutim, priznaju da je UNESCO preporučio zabranu gradnje do usvajanja izmijenjenog Menadžment plana.

„Zbog političkih promjena na lokalnom i nacionalnom nivou, ali i poštovanja mjera usljed novonastale situacije izazvane virusom COVID-19 u više navrata proces rada je zaustavljan”, pojašnjavaju iz MPNKS.

Kapetanović, koja je i članica radne grupe za izradu Menadžment plana, podsjeća da se u proces revizije tog plana krenulo u martu 2019. godine i da su tada aktivnosti bile intezivne, ali su zaustavljene više puta nakon promjene opštinskih vlasti.

Ona je, u februaru prošle godine, dala ostavku na članstvo u Savjetu za upravljanje, u kom je bila kao predstavnica nevladinih organizacija, uz obrazloženje da je došlo do alarmantnog pogoršanja stanja na zaštićenom području, da je Savjet neefikasan, kao i zbog odluke bivše Vlade da razriješi pet članova tog Savjeta koji su bili stručnjaci iz oblasti zaštite kulturne baštine.

Kapetanović naglašava da se u praksi pokazalo da Savjet postoji samo kao forma, ali da u suštini nema nikakvog uticaja na procese koji se dešavaju u Kotoru. Ističe i da je transparentnost rada Savjeta pogoršana, te da informacije nijesu javno dostupne.

„Iako je u Poslovniku navedeno da je rad Savjeta javan, i da će zapisnici, i sva ostala dokumenta koje usvaja Savjet biće postavljana na sajtu Opštine Kotor, najkasnije 7 dana nakon njihovog usvajanja”, podsjeća ona.

Neophodno je, kaže ona, da Savjet dobije daleko značajniju ulogu u svim procesima koji se tiču razvoja i planiranja prostora Opštine Kotor.

Prema podacima iz kotorske opštine, 27 prijava gradnje podnijeto je prije usvajanja PUP-a, koje su po zakonu morale biti odobrene. Neke od tih dozvola, u koje je CIN-CG imao uvid, predviđaju izgradnju turističkog naselja u Risnu i petospratne zgrade u Dobroti. Predstavnici nevladinog sektora smatraju da bi ti projekti mogli dodatno ugroziti Boku.

Nema više gradnje u Kostanjici, tužilaštvo izviđa Jokića

Specijalno državno tužilaštvo (SDT) pokrenulo je izviđaj protiv Vladimira Jokića, predsjednika opštine Kotor i to zato što je zaustavio gradnju u Kostanjici. 

UNESCO je slučaj Kostanjice ranije prepoznao kao najdrastičniji primjer bahatog odnosa prema zaštićenom području i neadekvatnog odgovora institucija, jer je vizura Perasta sa Gospom od Škrpjela i Sv. Đorđem trajno narušena. A to je bio jedan od prepoznatljivih pejzaža Crne Gore i Boke.

Predmet protiv Jokića je kasnije ustupljen Osnovnom tužilaštvu u Kotoru, koje utvrđuje da li je on neizdavanjem dozvola za nastavak gradnje u Kostanjici počinio krivično djelo nesavjestan rad u službi, iako je i glavni planer Mladen Krekić izričit da na tom lokalitetu ne bi više smjelo da se gradi.

I dok tužilaštvo izviđa Jokića što nije dopustio da se nastavi devastacija Kostanjice, nema postupaka zbog loših planova i onih koji su dozvolili da djelovi Boke sve više liče na Budvu.

Jokić za CIN-CG ocjenjuje da je u pitanju politički proces „u kojem je trebalo progoniti onoga koji je štitio prostor i javni interes da bi se sačuvali interesi offshore kompanija iza kojih stoje ljudi iz bivše crnogorske vlasti”.

Pozvao je SDT da pokrenu proces protiv Branimira Gvozdenovića, bivšeg ministra održivog razvoja i turizma i sa njim povezanim licima, kao i offshore kompanija iza kojih se kriju ljudi iz Crne Gore.

„Imaju sasvim dovoljno dokaza za pokretanje postupka protiv Gvozdenovića koji je svjesno izdao nezakonitu saglasnost na te planove”, ocijenio je predsjednik kotorske opštine.

Investitor A-Y Montenegro, čiji je osnivač offshore kompaija A-Y Kostanjica Limited sa Kanalaskih ostrva, podnio je krivičnu prijavu protiv Jokića i njegovih saradnika u Opštini zbog zloupotrebe službenog položaja. „U radnjama određenih službenih lica Opštine Kotor eventualno se stiču elementi bića krivičnog djela nesavjestan rad u službi”, rekli su za CIN-CG iz SDT-a. Iz kotorskog tužilaštva su istakli da je predmet još u fazi izviđaja.

Za nesavjestan rad u službi predviđena je zatvorska kazna od šest mjeseci do pet godina. „S obzirom na to da smo postupali u svemu zakonito, očekujem da će i ODT ubrzo odbaciti sve navode kao neosnovane”, rekao je Jokić.

Investitor A-Y Montenegro je zahtjev za još osam građevinskih dozvola za gradnju dodatnih gotovo devet hiljada kvadratnih metara u Kostanjici podnio u vremenu između proglašavanja moratorijuma i njegovog stupanja na snagu.

Dva turistička kompleksa u Kostanjici, koja su potpuno devastirala ambijentalnu cjelinu, realizovana su dok je na čelu kotorske opštine bila Marija Ćatović iz Demokratske partije socijalista (DPS). Saglasnost za sporni plan za Kostanjicu iz 2009. godine i njegove izmjene iz 2013. godine, dao je Branimir Gvozdenović koji je tada bio ministar uređenja prostora i zaštite životne sredine.

Tadašnji Regionalni institut za zaštitu kulturnih spomenika, čija je direktorka bila Ružica Ivanović i Ministarstvo kulture na čelu sa Branislavom Mićunovićem dali su negativno mišljenje na plan za Kostanjicu, ali uveliko nakon isteka zakonskog roka, pa njihova mišljenja nijesu imala nikakvu snagu.

Prema podacima iz centralnog registra privrednih subjekata (CRPS) nije jasno ko je stvarni vlasnik kompleksa u Kostanjici, jer se on krije iza offshore kompanije. 

Ustavni sud je odbacio predlog za pokretanje ocjene ustavnosti i zakonitosti DUP-a Kostanjica sa obrazloženjem da ne može da odlučuje o zakonima koji su prestali da važe.

„Formalitet Ustavnog suda ne vodi zaštiti javnog interesa, ne samo u ovom predmetu već i u sličnim slučajevima. Bitno je naglasiti da je DUP Kostanjica stavljen van snage donošenjem PUP-a Kotor”, naglašava Jokić.

  Maja Boričić

Status Kotora na listi svjetske baštine zbog pretjetrane urbanizacije mogao bi biti ugrožen, a nadležni tvrde da je zabrana gradnje nepotrebna 

 

Organizacija Ujedinjenih nacija za obrazovanje, nauku i kulturu (UNESCO) preporučila je Crnoj Gori da zabrani gradnju na prostoru zaštićenog područja u Bokokotorskom zalivu, dok se ne završe Prostorno urbanistički plan (PUP) Kotora i izmijeni Menadžment plan, ali Vlada ipak nije produžila moratorijum na gradnju u decembru prošle godine.

Tada je, prema saznanjima Centra za istraživačko novinarstvo (CIN-CG), istekla odluka po kojoj je bila zabranjena gradnja u dijelu zaliva, koji je od 1979. godine pod zaštitom UNESCO-a.

Moratorijum na gradnju u tom području uveden je u martu 2017. godine, zbog višegodišnjih upozorenja UNESCO-a da bi Kotor mogao biti skinut sa liste zaštićenih područja, upravo zbog pretjerane devastacije prostora.

Prethodna Vlada je, u septembru prošle godine, usvojila PUP Kotora, ali se i dalje ne nazire kraj izrade Menadžment plana, kojim taj PUP treba da profunkcioniše u praksi.

Ni Savjet za upravljanje prirodnim i kulturno-istorijskim područjem Kotora, na čijem je čelu predsjednik opštine Kotor Vladimir Jokić, ne funkcioniše. Savjet bi trebalo da upravlja zeštićenim područjem Boke. Nakon promjene vlasti na državnom nivou, i dalje se čekaju nova imenovanja u tom tijelu, a o radu Savjeta nema nikakvih dostupnih informacija na sajtu opštine Kotor.

Iz nadležnih ministarstava i kotorske opštine za CIN-CG kažu da je UNESCO dao saglasnost na novi PUP, te da zbog toga nije ni produžen moratorijum na gradnju.

U nevladinom sektoru, međutim, ocjenjuju da je moratorijum morao biti na snazi, dok se ne izmijeni Menadžment plan, ali i da je novi PUP „izuzetno loš planski dokument“.

Izrada novog plana trajala je 12 godina, a Zakon o planiranju i izgradnji objekata koji reguliše ovu oblast je od tada promijenjen tri puta.

Ni taj novi planski dokument, međutim, ne može da spriječi gradnju onih koji su prije njegovog usvajanja dobili dozvolu, odnosno prijavili gradnju nekog objekta.

Tako ni moratorijum nije spriječio uništavanje zaštićenog ambijenta, jer se nije mogla zabraniti gradnja nečega što je „aminovano“ prije stupanja na snagu odluke o zabrani gradnje.

Tako je izgrađena plaža u Dobroti, a nastavljena je i gradnja luksuznog hotela i turističkog naselja u vlasništvu Edina Kolarevića, sestrića predsjednika Crne Gore Mila Đukanovića.

Gradnja tog kompleksa izazvala je veliko negodovanje u Boki, jer je hotel podignut na mjestu jedne od rijetkih preostalih većih zelenih površina uz more u Dobroti, kada je posječena stoljetna hrastova šuma.

Vlasti su dozvolile i „rehabilitaciju kupališta“ koje je nekad bila manja drvena platforma na betonskim stubovima, a sada je nasuta plaža u dužini od oko 110 metara.

Iz Centra za održivi prostorni razvoj EXPEDITIO ističu da su zbog prekomjerne i neadekvatne urbanizacije potpuno devastirani djelovi ovog izuzetnog pejzaža, a najočigledniji primjeri tvde su Kostanjica i Dobrota. „Nažalost, prekomjerna i neadekvatna urbanizacija je i dalje u toku“, kaže arhitektica Biljana Gligorić, iz EXPEDITIO.

UNESCO čeka do kraja iduće godine

U izvještaju UNESCO-a, iz jula ove godine navodi se da bi ažurirani Menadžment plan upravljanja trebalo da uključi preporuke misije iz 2018. godine „tako da postane potpuno operativan instrument za efikasno upravljanje cjelokupnom imovinom i njenom tampon zonom”.

Takođe se traži da do 1.decembra 2022. država dostavi izvještaj o stanju očuvanja kulturnog dobra i sprovođenju preporuka UNESCO-a.

Ta organizacija je, u detaljnom izvještaju misije Centra za kulturnu baštinu UNESCO-a iz 2018. naglasila da moratorijum na novu izgradnju treba održavati do usvajanja prostornog plana i izmjene Menadžment plana, koje bi trebalo raditi paralelno i „koji će identifikovati ograničeni potencijal održive gradnje bez dodatnog negativnog uticaja”.

Tada su preporučili i da se odustane od gradnje mosta na Verigama, novih puteva u Mulu, Prčanju, Stolivu i Kostanjici; da se izmijeni ili otkaže zaobilaznica za Risan i duga obilaznica za Kotor i Dobrotu; da se poništi urbanizacija u Morinju; da se ne gradi turističko selo u Glavatima; da se ograniči buduća gradnja u Mulu, Prčanju i Stolivu, ali i na južnoj strani tivatskog i hercegnovskog zaliva; da se ne gradi između Ljute i Dobrote, ali ni u Glavatima i Morinju.

Predstavnici misje su tada naglasili da su loše posljedice po zaštićeno područje istaknute posebno gradnjom u Kostanjici, realizovanim prijedlozima o lokaciji Autokamp u Dobroti i prijedlogom za Turističko selo u Glavatima – u Prčanju.

„Da bi dobro ostalo upisano na Listu svjetske baštine potrebna je drastična akcija, u najmanju ruku da Glavati i Morinj ostanu neizgrađeni”, upozorili su 2018. iz UNESCO-a.

Plan neće riješiti goruće probleme

Zaštićeni prostor Boke obuhvata jugoistočni dio zaliva od 14.600 hektara i tampon zonu od 36.491 hektara i prostire se na četiri opštine - kotorsku, tivatsku, hercegnovsku i cetinjsku.

Inžinjerka arhitekture i članica EXPEDITIO Aleksandra Kapetanović za CIN-CG ističe da, osim preporuke da se ova dva plana urade paralelno, nijesu poštovane ni preporuke da nema urbanizacije strmih padina, da nova gradnja treba da bude niske gustine, ali i da je potrebno razviti plan integrisanog saobraćaja za područje Boke.

„Iako je, na osnovu preporuka, zaobilaznica Kotor-Dobrota koja je bila u nacrtu PUP-a uklonjena, planom se i dalje predviđa urbanizacija velikog kapaciteta za područje Dobrote“, navodi Kapetanović.

Biljana Gligorić ocjenjuje i da je problem kod novog PUP-a to što značajno odstupa od standarda dobrih planerskih dokumenata „kako u svojoj strukturi koja otežava njegovo čitanje i tumačenje, zatim u nejasnim i neutemeljenim odrednicama koje u praksi bivaju teško sprovodljive ili nelogične“.

„U pitanju je dokument čiji vodeći planer nema iskustva u izradi ovih kompleksnih dokumenata“, ističe ona.

Iz EXPEDITIO ocjenjuju i da PUP nije dokument koji će značajno doprinijeti razvoju zaštićenog područja, niti će donijeti razrešjenje gorućih problema - saobraćajnog kolapsa, pretjerane urbanizacije i nepostojanja kvalitetnih novih, javnih sadržaja. „Sve što je rađeno je uglavnom bilo da bi se poštovala forma prema UNESCO-u. Suštinske aktivnosti nijesu sprovedene. Menadžmet plan je morao da bude mnogo ranije usvojen i ozbiljno i efikasno primenjivan”.

Krekić: Moratorijum je trenutno nepotreban

Arhitekta Mladen Krekić, koji je bio glavni planer novog PUP-a, priznaje da je taj dokument trebalo raditi paralelno sa Menadžment planom. Međutim, ističe da je danas gradnja u području Kotora nemoguća, dok se ne donese i taj plan.

Da li je baš tako? Gradi se ipak, potvrđuje Krekić i tamo gdje su dozvole izdate prije donošenja PUP-a, kada je u pitanju rekonstrukcija, kao i gradnja objekata koji su prošli Procjenu uticaja na baštinu (HIA).

„Moratorijum je trenutno nepotreban, jer nema logike da se blokira rekonstrukcija i gradnja objekata koji su prošli HIA. Svakako se mora raditi u skladu sa ambijentalnim prostorom“, ističe Krekić.

Krekić ocjenjuje da su novim kotorskim PUP-om poštovane skoro sve preporuke UNESCO-a, te da je ta organizacija dala saglasnost na ovaj plan.

On objašnjava da je dosta toga dovedeno u red. Nema više gradnje velike gustine stanova. Može da se gradi samo prizemlje, jedna etaža i potkrovlje. Ističe da su fiksirane visinske kvote.

„Radikalno sam smanjio svu gradnju, to se odnosi i na cijelu bafer zonu, strategija je bila minimalno povećavati građevinsko zemljište samo tamo gdje je neophodno, smanjiti gradnju stanova“, pojašnjava on.

Menadžment plan kasni zbog politike i korone

Iz Ministarstva prosvjete, nauke, kulture i sporta (MPNKS) i Ministarstva ekologije, prostornog planiranja i urbanizma (MEPG) za CIN-CG potvrđuju da je u decembru prošle godine istekao rok važenja odluke o zabrani gradnje u Kotoru.

U MEPG se pozivaju na Zakon o planiranju prostora i izgradnji objekata, prema kome je zabrana građenja vezana za izradu planskog dokumenta.

I oni objašnjavaju da odluka o zabrani gradnje nije produžavana, jer je u međuvremenu usvojen PUP Kotora, koji je u skladu sa preporukama UNESCO-a.

Stavljena je van snage, dodaju, prostorno planska dokumentacija koja nije bila usklađena sa novim planom u pogledu namjena površina i planiranih kapaciteta za izgradnju.

„Na ovaj način smanjeno je građevinsko područje, a samim tim smanjen je pritisak na Bokokotorski zaliv”, naglašava se iz tog ministarstva.

Predsjednik opštine Kotor Vladimir Jokić ocjenjuje da su stvoreni svi preduslovi da se taj prostor trajno zaštiti, a da se u isto vrijeme omogući njegov kontrolisani i održivi razvoj.

Menadžment plan je, dodaje Jokić, u procesu izrade i kada bude završen biće poslat na mišljenje UNESCO-u.

„Uprava za zaštitu kulturnih dobara izdaje uslove za manje projekte, a za svaki veći projekat UNESCO-a posredstvom HIA studije daje saglasnost”, objašnjava Jokić.

On ističe da, s obzirom na epidemiološku situaciju koja je pratila ovu godinu, grupa za izradu Menadžment plana nije sastajala uživo, već je obavljala online konsultacije, ali se sastanak očekuje u najskorijem roku.

Iz MPNKS, međutim, priznaju da je UNESCO preporučio zabranu gradnje do usvajanja izmijenjenog Menadžment plana.

„Zbog političkih promjena na lokalnom i nacionalnom nivou, ali i poštovanja mjera usljed novonastale situacije izazvane virusom COVID-19 u više navrata proces rada je zaustavljan”, pojašnjavaju iz MPNKS.

Kapetanović, koja je i članica radne grupe za izradu Menadžment plana, podsjeća da se u proces revizije tog plana krenulo u martu 2019. godine i da su tada aktivnosti bile intezivne, ali su zaustavljene više puta nakon promjene opštinskih vlasti.

Ona je, u februaru prošle godine, dala ostavku na članstvo u Savjetu za upravljanje, u kom je bila kao predstavnica nevladinih organizacija, uz obrazloženje da je došlo do alarmantnog pogoršanja stanja na zaštićenom području, da je Savjet neefikasan, kao i zbog odluke bivše Vlade da razriješi pet članova tog Savjeta koji su bili stručnjaci iz oblasti zaštite kulturne baštine.

Kapetanović naglašava da se u praksi pokazalo da Savjet postoji samo kao forma, ali da u suštini nema nikakvog uticaja na procese koji se dešavaju u Kotoru. Ističe i da je transparentnost rada Savjeta pogoršana, te da informacije nijesu javno dostupne.

„Iako je u Poslovniku navedeno da je rad Savjeta javan, i da će zapisnici, i sva ostala dokumenta koje usvaja Savjet biće postavljana na sajtu Opštine Kotor, najkasnije 7 dana nakon njihovog usvajanja”, podsjeća ona.

Neophodno je, kaže ona, da Savjet dobije daleko značajniju ulogu u svim procesima koji se tiču razvoja i planiranja prostora Opštine Kotor.

Prema podacima iz kotorske opštine, 27 prijava gradnje podnijeto je prije usvajanja PUP-a, koje su po zakonu morale biti odobrene. Neke od tih dozvola, u koje je CIN-CG imao uvid, predviđaju izgradnju turističkog naselja u Risnu i petospratne zgrade u Dobroti. Predstavnici nevladinog sektora smatraju da bi ti projekti mogli dodatno ugroziti Boku.

Nema više gradnje u Kostanjici, tužilaštvo izviđa Jokića

Specijalno državno tužilaštvo (SDT) pokrenulo je izviđaj protiv Vladimira Jokića, predsjednika opštine Kotor i to zato što je zaustavio gradnju u Kostanjici.

UNESCO je slučaj Kostanjice ranije prepoznao kao najdrastičniji primjer bahatog odnosa prema zaštićenom području i neadekvatnog odgovora institucija, jer je vizura Perasta sa Gospom od Škrpjela i Sv. Đorđem trajno narušena. A to je bio jedan od prepoznatljivih pejzaža Crne Gore i Boke.

Predmet protiv Jokića je kasnije ustupljen Osnovnom tužilaštvu u Kotoru, koje utvrđuje da li je on neizdavanjem dozvola za nastavak gradnje u Kostanjici počinio krivično djelo nesavjestan rad u službi, iako je i glavni planer Mladen Krekić izričit da na tom lokalitetu ne bi više smjelo da se gradi.

I dok tužilaštvo izviđa Jokića što nije dopustio da se nastavi devastacija Kostanjice, nema postupaka zbog loših planova i onih koji su dozvolili da djelovi Boke sve više liče na Budvu.

Jokić za CIN-CG ocjenjuje da je u pitanju politički proces „u kojem je trebalo progoniti onoga koji je štitio prostor i javni interes da bi se sačuvali interesi offshore kompanija iza kojih stoje ljudi iz bivše crnogorske vlasti”.

Pozvao je SDT da pokrenu proces protiv Branimira Gvozdenovića, bivšeg ministra održivog razvoja i turizma i sa njim povezanim licima, kao i offshore kompanija iza kojih se kriju ljudi iz Crne Gore.

„Imaju sasvim dovoljno dokaza za pokretanje postupka protiv Gvozdenovića koji je svjesno izdao nezakonitu saglasnost na te planove”, ocijenio je predsjednik kotorske opštine.

Investitor A-Y Montenegro, čiji je osnivač offshore kompaija A-Y Kostanjica Limited sa Kanalaskih ostrva, podnio je krivičnu prijavu protiv Jokića i njegovih saradnika u Opštini zbog zloupotrebe službenog položaja. „U radnjama određenih službenih lica Opštine Kotor eventualno se stiču elementi bića krivičnog djela nesavjestan rad u službi”, rekli su za CIN-CG iz SDT-a. Iz kotorskog tužilaštva su istakli da je predmet još u fazi izviđaja.

Za nesavjestan rad u službi predviđena je zatvorska kazna od šest mjeseci do pet godina. „S obzirom na to da smo postupali u svemu zakonito, očekujem da će i ODT ubrzo odbaciti sve navode kao neosnovane”, rekao je Jokić.

Investitor A-Y Montenegro je zahtjev za još osam građevinskih dozvola za gradnju dodatnih gotovo devet hiljada kvadratnih metara u Kostanjici podnio u vremenu između proglašavanja moratorijuma i njegovog stupanja na snagu.

Dva turistička kompleksa u Kostanjici, koja su potpuno devastirala ambijentalnu cjelinu, realizovana su dok je na čelu kotorske opštine bila Marija Ćatović iz Demokratske partije socijalista (DPS). Saglasnost za sporni plan za Kostanjicu iz 2009. godine i njegove izmjene iz 2013. godine, dao je Branimir Gvozdenović koji je tada bio ministar uređenja prostora i zaštite životne sredine.

Tadašnji Regionalni institut za zaštitu kulturnih spomenika, čija je direktorka bila Ružica Ivanović i Ministarstvo kulture na čelu sa Branislavom Mićunovićem dali su negativno mišljenje na plan za Kostanjicu, ali uveliko nakon isteka zakonskog roka, pa njihova mišljenja nijesu imala nikakvu snagu.

Prema podacima iz centralnog registra privrednih subjekata (CRPS) nije jasno ko je stvarni vlasnik kompleksa u Kostanjici, jer se on krije iza offshore kompanije.

Ustavni sud je odbacio predlog za pokretanje ocjene ustavnosti i zakonitosti DUP-a Kostanjica sa obrazloženjem da ne može da odlučuje o zakonima koji su prestali da važe.

„Formalitet Ustavnog suda ne vodi zaštiti javnog interesa, ne samo u ovom predmetu već i u sličnim slučajevima. Bitno je naglasiti da je DUP Kostanjica stavljen van snage donošenjem PUP-a Kotor”, naglašava Jokić.

  Maja Boričić
foto: Stevan Kordić