Residents of Ulcinj marked their Municipality Day on Friday with a protest at Mala Plaža, rallying against a government plan to lease a large stretch of Velika Plaža’s hinterland to investors from the United Arab Emirates.
The protest, organized by Ulcinj Mayor Genci Nimanbegu and supported by representatives of all local political parties, sent a unified message: Ulcinj is not for sale.
“Someone wants to alienate our property and hand it over to an investor for 99 years. We will not allow that,” Nimanbegu told the crowd. “I made the decision to replace celebrations with a protest because we are facing an unprecedented threat. Ulcinj has endured many occupations, but we must not allow others to determine our fate in this way.”
He added that defending Ulcinj’s land is not just a political issue but a generational duty. “This is about protecting what our ancestors left us and what we must leave to our children.”
Nimanbegu said the issue had brought together parties that are typically divided on other matters. “There will be no quarrels when it comes to Ulcinj. We will defend this city at any cost.”
He accused Prime Minister Milojko Spajić of manipulating the public, saying the government falsely claimed to have adopted Ulcinj municipality’s conclusions. “The conclusions rejecting the mega-project and the handover of our land were never even discussed,” he said. “Spajić has managed to turn an entire city against himself.”
The protest drew not only locals but also supporters from across Montenegro, including activists and opposition representatives.
According to the municipality, the protest was organized in response to the Montenegrin government’s plan to lease a 12-kilometer stretch of coastal land, including parts of Velika Plaža, to UAE investors for 99 years. The area is considered public land and a cultural symbol of Ulcinj.
As a result, the official Municipality Day celebrations were canceled. The ceremonial session of the municipal assembly was instead held in public, as part of the protest.
Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović, in his Municipality Day message, emphasized that development strategies for Ulcinj must be sustainable, transparent, and aligned with the needs of the local community. He praised the city’s unique Mediterranean character and its 2,000-year history as a meeting point of Eastern and Western cultures.
Prime Minister Spajić also issued a statement, stressing that Ulcinj has the potential to launch major development projects while preserving its tradition, identity, and natural and historical heritage—with the support of the government.