“Today, we do not talk about Montenegro as the average destination but as a destination that can be at the same level with Monte Carlo or St Tropez. I am aware that many people do not believe it… But today Porto Montenegro is already at that level. Portonovi will be at that level. One project at the time – all we need is a critical mass of those projects. Four, five, six of them… and I believe all will believe then. Today, we are not far from it”, Djukanovic said during his official visit to Herceg Novi.
He pointed out that one of these key projects was Porto Bono presented in Milan in 2015. About €2bn is needed to build a new town with a citadel in Dobra Luka in the Lustica peninsula, so the journalists wanted to know how realistic the story was.
“Porto Bono is definitely one of such projects. It is important to show that we have not only a vision but also the ability to quickly overcome obstacles, including spatial planning documents and transport infrastructure. I am sure that if we had these two issues resolved today, we would have investors in the project Porto Bono this or next year”, the PM said.
When it comes to Lustica, journalists asked whether the Northstar company would begin to construct tourism complex in Rose near Herceg Novi, since the project has been pending since 2013.
“When it comes to the North Star, my information is that the investor applied for a construction permit for preparatory construction works and the request will be processed soon. In my opinion, there are preconditions to start this project implementation. The investor proposed the construction of infrastructure, which would be an obligation of the state. It is not cheap project. The investor has calculated that this could cost about €18m. It offered to build the infrastructure on its own and to compensate the cost through its lease obligations. There will be a very quick response from the government. I am encouraged by the initiative of the partners”, he said.
On the other hand, Djukanovic has confirmed that the government is determined to terminate the contract with Atlas group that manages the hospital in Meljine. The reason is the fact that the investor has not fulfilled its obligations.
“We are aware that the level of culture in Montenegro is such that we will hardly find a partner who will say ‘I have not fulfilled my obligations’. Every investor, either local or foreign one, attempts to rationalise his/her responsibility and then everything must be ended before a competent judicial entity. Therefore we are looking for the best modalities that will mean the shortest waste of time in order to come out of an unsuccessful arrangement… We will try to quickly get to the new investor that will help us achieve the things that we failed to achieve in the first privatisation arrangement”, he explained.
Regardless of the new investor, Meljine will remain a hospital, the prime minister said.
“It is our firm intention that the facility will remain engaged in providing health care services. It would be good if we had a good quality hotel too… But we are primarily committed to the idea of the facility to remain primarily a hospital. Likewise, we are firmly committed when it comes to the Igalo Institute. There are some kind of unfounded suspicions, which are characteristic for a small and suspicious public such as Montenegro’s. I have no doubt that this location is intended for rehabilitation of tourism, and the plan is to put all the potential further developments there in the same purpose”, he pointed out.
