The valuation of the country’s largest resources should not, and must not, be approached with the superficial style typical of our Prime Minister. Instead, it should be a lawful, transparent, and inclusive process that avoids any suspicion of potential corrupt or harmful actions that could harm the economic interests of the state, said Ivan Vujović, president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and a leader of the European Union.
Vujović pointed out that the pompous pre-election announcement of supposed billions in investments in tourism and infrastructure, as well as the already adopted proposal for an interstate agreement with the United Arab Emirates, and the way these were communicated and presented to the public, raise doubts about the legality and good intentions of Prime Minister Spajić as the initiator of this arrangement.
“Attractive locations, particularly along the coast, are the country’s largest and non-renewable resources. Their valuation is not in question – in fact, it is necessary. However, when valuing these resources, the state must show the necessary seriousness if it wants to benefit from them, rather than having privileged individuals, groups, officials in power, or dubious investors benefit. Every investor will respect the country to the extent that the country, or its government, respects itself, its legal order, and its citizens, particularly the local communities where these alleged investments are intended to take place. When an investor, even the most serious one, faces a government with an unserious and deceptive approach, they will act accordingly, seeking to benefit themselves at the expense of the public interest,” said Vujović.
He added that he fears Spajić’s announcements are not only repeating some bad practices from the previous period but are also worsening these practices to the detriment of citizens and the state’s interests.
“The state must know what it wants to do with its space and how it envisions the development of its tourism potential. This requires a strategic approach, full seriousness, and the involvement of all Montenegrin expertise,” stressed Vujović.
Vujović emphasized that the government has a four-year mandate, and therefore, it has no right to make superficial, trivial, or improvised decisions that could determine the long-term direction of the country’s most sensitive economic sector.
“The prerequisite for making quality decisions in this area is that such a government steps down and makes way for those who understand the state’s interest and know that any serious approach to implementing necessary investments must prioritize developing the country and local communities, not filling the pockets of the privileged or promoting corrupt arrangements with public officials,” concluded Vujović.
