April 27, 2025
Honorable Milojko Spajić
Prime Minister of Montenegro
Karadjordjeva bb
Podgorica, Montenegro
Subject: UAE Agreements Impacting Velika Plaža: Transparency, Minority Rights, and EU Compliance concerns
Honorable Prime Minister Spajić,
We, the members of the Albanian American community, who maintain deep personal and historical connections to Montenegro—especially to Ulqin/Ulcinj—are writing to express our serious concerns regarding the recent adoption by the Montenegrin Parliament of two controversial agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These agreements pave the way for the development of Ulcinj’s Velika Plaza (Great Beach), a large-scale project that has already sparked significant public outrage.
While we support the development of this region by the state or through foreign direct investments (FDI), the current proceedings, which are being conducted hastily and lack vital transparency, violating both domestic and international laws.
The process thus far has excluded the local municipal government, residents, and relevant national and international experts. These exclusions are contrary to the EU norms and undermines legal frameworks, democratic principles, and the rights of the Albanian minority. The omission of local stakeholders not only contravenes the Montenegro’s Spatial Planning Act and State Property Law, which require consultation and fair governance but also exacerbates historical challenges. Specifically, Article 64 of the 2009 Law on State Property concerning municipal holdings, as well as Ulcinj’s inequitable share in former state enterprises located within its jurisdiction further complicates the matter. These procedural shortcomings stand in stark conflict with the governance standards that Montenegro has pledged to uphold, particularly in light of its EU accession efforts.
Velika Plaža is ecologically significant on an international scale, encompassing the Ada Bojana ecosystem and Ulcinj Salina, and it holds considerable cultural value for the Albanian community. Undertaking development without stringent environmental protections and the involvement of local residents poses a threat of irreversible damage. We firmly advocate that in order to achieve long term success, any development plans must adhere to sustainability standards aligned with EU, United Nations, and UNESCO guidelines.
There are systemic issues related to the Law on Marine Resources (Morsko Dobro) that centralize coastal authority and undermine local governance, thereby marginalizing Ulcinj’s Albanian population and contravening the principle of subsidiarity. Upholding the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities necessitates the active engagement of the Albanian community in decisions that affect their lives. We strongly oppose any efforts to bypass due process through “Lex Specialis” legislative shortcuts.
To address these concerns and ensure that development aligns with Montenegro’s legal and international obligations and commitments, we respectfully urge you to immediately take the following actions:
Suspend all negotiations regarding Velika Plaža until Ulcinj’s municipal government and local stakeholders are fully engaged in the decision-making process with meaningful influence.
Commission impartial and comprehensive audits to examine the project’s legal standing, environmental effects, social implications, and compliance with EU standards, ensuring that the results are publicly accessible.
Publicly reaffirm Montenegro’s and your government’s commitments to the principles of municipal autonomy, the protection of national minority rights under domestic and international laws, and the application of transparent, EU regulations to this project.
As proponents of investments, we believe that a sustainable future for the region is best achieved through transparent funding by respected international investors, in cooperation with state and local governing bodies. We committed to seeing any and all developments in Ulcinj and Montenegro succeed and avoid the many past instances where anticipated excitement turned into public disappointments.
Development should serve the long-term interests of all citizens while respecting the rule of law, environmental integrity, and cultural heritage.
We appreciate your attention to these critical matters for your constituents and look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Albanian American Cultural Foundation
aacforg@aol.com
cc: Jakov Milatovic, President of Montenegro
Signatories:
Cafo Boga, Sado Dollaku, Mark Gjonaj, Sabri Gjoni, Richard Lukaj, Nik Markola, Etrita Ibroci, Naser Cobi.
Supporter Organizations:
Federata Pan-Shqiptare e Amerikës-VATRA
Keshilli Koordinues i Diaspores-KKD
Albanian American Association Ulqini – Chicago
Albanian American Association Ulqini – New York
Albanian American Association, Inc.
Albanian American Cultural Foundation
Albanian American Humanitarian Fund “Trojet Tona”
Don Gjon Buzuku Association- Chicago
Don Gjon Buzuku Association- New York
Fondacioni Don Simon Filipaj
Fondacioni Hoti i Kujit
Fondacioni Plave Guci
Fondi Humanitar Rapsha
Germin
Lukaj Foundation
Shoqata Ana e Malit
Shoqata Atdhetare Malesia e Madhe- Michigan
Shoqata Besi
Shoqata Jehona e Malesise
Shoqata Kraja
Shoqata Koja
Shoqata Malesia e Madhe – California
Shoqata Malesia e Madhe- New York
Trieshi Humanitarian Fund