Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro should reconsider whether there is more harm than benefit from Kotor’s inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, said Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property Slaven Radunovic, adding that a referendum could be organized for the citizens of Boka Kotorska to decide.

During the press conference, marking the third anniversary since he took over the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, Radunovic commented on the UNESCO’s report which calls for a moratorium on construction in the Kotor Bay area, saying that it would be a “big problem”.

According to him, this refers to stopping all construction across the entire Boka Bay area and therefore all forms of development.

“I think that, like other countries and cities, we should draw a line and consider what to do next. Do we benefit more from being on the UNESCO list, or do we suffer more from not being allowed to build a bridge over the Boka Bay”, stated Radunovic.

Radunovic proposed that all relevant institutions in Montenegro, involved in this issue, should initiate a public debate.

“And why not call a referendum for the citizens of Boka Bay”, Radunović added.

Speaking about the legalization of buildings in Montenegro, he said that the satellite survey of the territory has been completed and that all owners of illegal buildings will be able to legalize them within six months.

Radunovic pointed out that the new Law on Legalization enables the legalization of all illegally built structures provided they do not endanger the public interest and are visible in the satellite imagery.

In response to Radunovic’s statement, the Europe Now Movement (PES) Kotor Board pointed out that they are against the idea of organizing any referendum in the Boka Bay on Kotor’s UNESCO status.

“The fact that Kotor is under the protection of UNESCO represents an unquestionable cultural and civilizational value of global importance, which no one should challenge - neither politically nor communally”, emphasized PES.

The URA Civic Movement announced that the Government intends to devastate Boka Bay and erase it from the world heritage map.

President of Kotor Municipality, Vladimir Jokic, posted on Facebook that a referendum is unnecessary.

“The question of preserving exceptional universal values and remaining on the UNESCO list is a matter of fundamental civilizational values”, wrote Jokic.