Darker side to Montenegro boom
NICHOLAS WOOD IN BECICI MONTENEGRO has never seen anything quite like the Hotel Splendid. Stretching for almost half a mile along the Adriatic shoreline, it provides unparalleled luxury for those who can afford it. But like many of the projects backed by Russian investment funds that have recently poured into this small country, the hotel has earned a less than glamorous reputation. Three bombs exploded at the site during construction. The police officer investigating the blasts was killed. In the past two to three years, hundreds of Russians have flocked to Montenegro to buy large stretches of land along the Adriatic coast and to build resorts like the Hotel Splendid. Farther inland they have bought the majority of shares in the country's industrial sector, providing much-needed cash to ailing factories. The influx of Russian capital is prompting many here to question its impact on this nation of only 650,000 people, which already has a reputation as one of the most corrupt and crime-ridden states in the Balkans. The concerns spring from the secretive nature of many deals, questions about the origins of their financing and the large sums of money involved. In its official policy, Montenegro is avowedly pro-Western. In May, the republic voted in a referendum to end its union with neighbouring Serbia, breaking up all that remained of the former Yugoslavia. The newly independent state has made membership of Nato and the EU immediate priorities. The country's new prime minister, Zeljko Sturanovic, says he wants to rid the country of organised crime groups that dominated it during the break-up of Yugoslavia. >From Bar to Tivat, Montenegro's most prized stretch of coast, Russian voices can now be heard around the ports, on the beaches and in the cafes. Property signs are written in Russian and English. "It is interesting that they are able to come here carrying four million, five million or six million euros in cash apparently without any form or official control," said Marija Vukovic, who was until a year ago a local council lawyer for Budva, a coastal town where Russians have made substantial investments. Vukovic now owns her business, dealing with real estate transactions. "Every day we hear that Montenegro wants to be part of the EU, but this kind of business is not proof that we are heading the right way," she said. This article: http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1932062006 Last updated: 31-Dec-06 12:20 GMT Comments Add <http://members.scotsman.com/gateway.cfm?going_to=http%3A%2F%2Fnews%2Escotsm an%2Ecom%2Finternational%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D1932062006%23commentForm> your comment 1. <http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1932062006#comment255422> Neil, 9% Growth party / 1:21pm 31 Dec 2006 "one of the most corrupt and crime-ridden states in the Balkans" Since Kosovo isn't a state this seems to be an understatement. For 16 years NATO funded a kleptocracy in Montenegro with no respect for human rights. One of the arguments in favour of "independence" is that, as a sovereign state, their president could not be extradited to Italy to be a defendent in a Mafia trial. If what now exists is a kleptocracy with no respect for human rights we can hardly act surprised. 2. <http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1932062006#comment255940> Paul Camaj, New York / 11:05pm 31 Dec 2006 Montenegro has a chance to become an example of democracy in the Balkans. After achieving independence, Montenegro needs to establish a new democratic leadership replacing the current leaders who are old communist leaders that took part in the atrocities in the former Yugoslavia. The democracy in Montenegro must be developed on the principles of equality and not hate as it was the case with the recent activities toward ethnic Albanians which included political imprisonments, torture, the electing of puppets representatives etc. This behavior reminds us of the worst days of the Stalinist regime. Albanians in Montenegro do not deserve this treatment because they have been the most loyal minority in the former Yugoslavia. This being said, I hope that Montenegros path toward democracy be a quick and prosperous one. http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1932062006 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
