DPM Bečić meets with eminent experts in the field of natural and cultural heritage protection

The meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić and eminent European experts in the field of natural and cultural heritage protection focused on the preservation of the cultural landscape of Sveti Stefan, which has been listed among the seven most endangered European monuments and heritage sites for the year 2023.

The meeting was attended by Dragana Kažanegra from the organisation "Bankada," scientist Višnja Kisić, Laurie Neale from Europa Nostra organisation, and Lourdes Llorens Abando from the European Investment Bank.

At the outset of the meeting, Kažanegra expressed gratitude to the Deputy Prime Minister for demonstrating readiness to engage in discussions regarding the urgency of addressing this highly significant issue.

Neale highlighted the necessity of adhering to legal norms regarding the preservation of cultural heritage.

She reminded that Montenegro is a signatory to the Faro Convention of the Council of Europe on the value of cultural heritage for society, under which states protect cultural heritage and respect citizens' rights to access and participate in that heritage. The fact that access to Sveti Stefan is exclusively granted to guests and staff of the tourist resort means that local residents have lost their right to participate in their own culture, which directly contradicts the Faro Convention. Neale emphasised that "the unique beauty of Sveti Stefan and Miločer must guide the Montenegrin authorities in addressing this issue. They are not only the cultural heritage of Montenegro but also of Europe and the entire world."

According to Lourdes, one of the main threats to the cultural landscape of Sveti Stefan and Miločer Park is uncontrolled construction of tourist facilities and real estate for sale. "We are concerned about the illegal construction of large-scale condo hotels near the entrance to Miločer Park, which will cause significant damage to the cultural and natural richness of this area, disrupting the beauty of Montenegro's coastal belt. We hope that the detailed urban plan of Montenegro, which will be published in a few weeks, will include provisions for preserving such sites in your country," concluded Lourdes.

As Kisić stated, a detailed study has been conducted on the activities carried out at this site in the past period. "It involves a series of illegal actions that have led to the exploitation of Sveti Stefan in favor of multinational companies, and the previous authorities did nothing about it. Therefore, we hope that the attitude of the new government in Montenegro will be entirely different," she emphasised.

Deputy Prime Minister Bečić expressed regret that the state has not shown an adequate level of responsibility towards Sveti Stefan for years, affirming the need to make maximum efforts to protect our natural and cultural heritage.

The urbanistic genocide witnessed in the previous period in Budva and many parts of our coast is one of the greatest betrayals of our country and its future. Therefore, as a society, we must draw lessons, preserve, and properly plan the remaining space, especially taking into account our natural and cultural treasures, said Bečić. Sveti Stefan and Miločer Park deserve proper protection, not only as Montenegrin but also European pride, to once again become the flagship of Montenegro's tourism offer, enjoyed by both the local population and citizens of Montenegro, as well as all our visitors. Thank you for fighting for the protection of the public interest with dedication, sincerity, and selflessness. This is the noblest patriotic duty, as we owe it to all future generations, concluded Bečić.