Insight view

THE COUNTRY: ECONOMIC POLICY
INTERNATIONALLY PROTECTED AREA
Systematic destruction of the
factory “Bajo Sekulić”
Ulcinj Salina belongs to the group of the largest Salinas on Mediterranean. In the last 15 years, Ulcinj
Salina is the focus of ornithology research that clearly indicates that this area represents an important
environment for birds on the east coast of Adriatic, for both nesting and wintering, and also for landing
during their migration in Africa and vice versa.
Ulcinj Salina is an ideal example of synergy of economic use of space (production of salt) and nature
protection, and example of a sustainable production factory, based on impact of sun and wind, which
enables survival of birds at this territory. For its importance for its list of birds, this area of exquisite
values is recognized by strategic documents as potential internationally protected area, which attracted
attention of the international community, more precisely, the attention of the EU and a campaign
for protection improved with participation of Germany, France, Poland, and other embassies
that have recognized the importance of this space for the biodiversity of the whole Europe.
The Municipality Ulcinj waits for the consent of Ministry for Sustainable Development and Tourism, so
that Salina could be officially proclaimed as a “nature monument” at the next parliamentary session,
which was specified by the Law on Protection of Nature. However, this ministry plays the double game,
primarily due to the fact that the territory of Salina was appointed for this year’s Venice Biennale, at
the moment when needed consent was expected, but also due to the fact that almost at the same
time the Constitutional Court rejected the decision of the Montenegrin Parliament from 2012 about
the protection of Salina. Line ministry actively sabotages efforts for formal protection of Salina by international
documents and proposes plans where Salina is “already” private property (assumed attitude
in the text part of the Book 2 Draft of the Spatial Plan of special purposes for the coastal area –
PPPN OP). According to publicly available data of Ulcinj land-registry, the territory of Salina has been
registered as public property, where “Bajo Sekulić”, a bankrupt company, only has the right to use it.
This company has received the right to use the territory of Salina, according to concessions for exploitation
of salt, which have not been restored for a couple of years, and salt was not exploited.
The government already has prepared a decision on the confession that 800,000 euros market compensation
was paid for 15 million square meters at the coast, the land of Salina at the time of privatization.
Adopting of this decision at the Council for Privatization (whose President is Milo Đukanović,
Prime Minister of Montenegro), would result in confessing that Eurofund paid market compensation
for the control package of shares of Salina. This would allow Prva banka to activate its mortgages,
and its owner Aco Đukanović (Prime Minister’s brother) to come into possession of worthy property.
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