More than 65 non-governmental organizations have demanded the dismissal of the Minister of Spatial Planning, Slaven Radunović, due to his statement that Montenegro should consider whether there is more harm or benefit from the fact that Kotor is under UNESCO protection.
Radunović said on July 24 that a referendum could be organized for the citizens of Boka regarding this issue.
Kotor, a medieval town in Boka Kotorska, has enjoyed World Heritage status since 1979 due to its cultural and architectural values.
The idea of a referendum has been rejected by the Kotor authorities, A2 reports.
"We will do what is necessary. The pearl will remain a pearl," said the head of Kotor, Vladimir Jokic.
What motivated the minister to propose the referendum?
Radunović's statement came after the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in July in Paris, where it was assessed that there had been a serious deterioration in the preservation of the city's natural and historical-cultural area.
The possibility of Kotor being placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger was also opened.
Montenegro was asked to impose a moratorium on construction projects in the protected area, which includes parts of the municipalities of Kotor, Tivat, Herceg Novi and Cetinje.
"We need to think about whether it would be more beneficial for us to be in UNESCO or more beneficial if we could build. These are great damages," said Radunović.
He added that a public debate should be opened on the status of Kotor.
"And declare a referendum for the citizens of Boka to see what will be done next and whether we should still be in UNESCO," he added.
World heritage status in danger?
According to the UNESCO report, it is emphasized that Montenegro has not fulfilled key recommendations that have been repeated for years.
Problematic points include the lack of experts, the absence of a Protected Area Study, uncoordinated laws, and a lack of transparency in planning.
For this reason, UNESCO is calling for an urgent ban on issuing construction permits, changes to laws related to the protection of cultural heritage, and a ban on the exploitation of natural resources in the protected area...
A review of urban development plans is also needed to comply with the principles of preserving outstanding universal values, strengthening institutions, and creating a transparent management system.
The deadline for implementing the measures ends in February 2026.
The Ministry of Culture did not respond to Radio Free Europe's question for comment on Radunović's initiative, as well as the consequences if Montenegro does not implement UNESCO's recommendations.
'We are equal to a natural disaster'
The Mayor of Kotor, Vladimir Jokić, rejected the idea of a referendum, emphasizing that preserving cultural heritage is a civilizational obligation.
"The preservation of extraordinary universal values cannot be the subject of a referendum. Neither the government, nor the municipality, nor the citizens want to be separated from civilization," said Jokic.
Former Minister of Urban Planning, Ana Novakovic Đurović, assessed that Radunović's statement about a possible referendum represents a dangerous goal of the government to destroy Boka Kotorska and erase it from the world heritage map.
"The proposal is absurd, extremely irresponsible and shows a fundamental disregard for facts and international standards," said Novakovic Djurovic.
Even the Kotor branch of Prime Minister Milojko Spajic's "Europe Now" Movement declared that they are against the idea of organizing any kind of referendum.
"The development and infrastructure issues of Kotor and Boka Kotorska are important and require a serious approach, but solutions must be sought within the framework that implies the preservation of cultural and historical heritage," said the "Europe Now" Movement.
Architect Biljana Gligorić said that Kotor could soon be included in UNESCO's red list.
"It was on that list once before. After the earthquake. This is how we took care of it. We are equal to a natural disaster for this gem of the planet," said Gligoric.
'UNESCO status is recognition, not an obstacle'
If Montenegro does not meet the recommendations by February 1st of next year, Kotor could be included in the List of World Heritage in Danger – an international register of sites facing serious threats to universal values.
The World Heritage status enjoyed by Kotor under UNESCO protection represents recognition of its extraordinary universal values, the statement by 65 non-governmental organizations states.
"The loss of this status would have long-term consequences - a decline in confidence, reduced investment, loss of interest from international partners, and damage to the state's reputation," the non-governmental organizations stated.
Renouncing UNESCO status would mean leaving the space solely in the hands of market logic, ignoring public interest and cultural identity, the civil sector said.
Examples of loss of UNESCO status
In extreme cases, a site can be removed from the UNESCO list entirely, as happened with the Elbe Valley in Dresden, Germany, and the Port of Liverpool.
The Elbe River Valley near Dresden was the first place in Europe and the second in the world to be removed from the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.
Dresden is one of the rare cities in Germany that has preserved its appearance for 250 years.
It was removed from the list because the authorities decided to build a modern four-lane bridge over the river.
According to the World Heritage Committee, the construction of the bridge did not preserve the outstanding universal value of the Elbe River valley.
Previously, in 2007, UNESCO had delisted the Arabian Oryx Reserve (a rare type of antelope) in Oman, after local authorities reduced the protected area by 90 percent, destroying the area's outstanding universal value./ REL (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
