The UNESCO World Heritage Committee issued a decision on the protected area of Kotor two days ago, at its 42nd session.
Montenegro is required to continue the moratorium on construction, to withdraw from the proposed cable-car project and to provide planning documentation.
Describing the reasons for quitting the project, UNESCO said that any negative impact on "the extraordinary universal value of goods" will be prevented.
"The fact is that the status of Kotor on the UNESCO list has not changed, as well as that the Committee, together with other authorities, highly appreciates the exceptional universal value of the protected area. By the Decision, it is envisaged that in September, a reactive UNESCO mission comes to Kotor in order to evaluate the real state on the field. This is the time when it is necessary to define all the next steps that need to be taken to preserve the universal value of the area and to open up space for further development that will not endanger what remains of our heritage in any way," said Jokić.
This, he adds, could be the moment when the paradigm of action in Montenegro will be changed and when the sustainable development will finally begin.
"UNESCO and the Committee provide guidance and advice, and it is up to us to decide how we will act," Jokić said.
The deadline for sending a new report on the state of preservation of all components of goods and the implementation of the required measures required is February 1st, 2019.
Protection or there will be no construction
The moratorium on new construction and development should be maintained until the full package of planning and preservative measures is in force.
"If we were smarter, we could build and develop. Since we showed that we are not able to plan the space smartly, then we have spent all the credits," commented Biljana Gligorić from NGO Expeditio on UNESCO undertaken actions.
Text by Damira Kalac, on June 30th 2018, read more at Vijesti
