Politics

26 Feb 2019, 13:40 PM

Dejan Milovac from the MANS Research Center said that the amount of evidence that has been piling up for years against the longtime state official Branimir Gvozdenovic, is becoming worrisome, but not nearly as much as the lack of adequate response by the competent state authorities when it comes to this matter.

"Over the past years, MANS has filed hundreds of pages of written evidence that testifies to the brutal violation of the law by Gvozdenovic, whether it is a privatization process, an energy sector or spatial planning," said Milovac.

He adds that there is almost no area which Gvozdenovic dealt with, "without having resulted in serious doubts about corruption."

"The information that has come to the public from the beginning of this year again testifies to numerous suspicious transactions that Gvozdenovic has not yet been prosecuted for. One of them refers to the buildings that in one of the last speeches was mentioned by the President of Atlas Group, Dusko Knezevic, and which were built by Gvozdenovic's best-man, Radenko Radojicic. The survey conducted by MANS in 2012 showed that Gvozdenovic, as the Minister of Urbanism, allowed his best-man to build two residential buildings, with nearly 100 housing units in contravention of the law and the planning documents.

The criminal complaint filed at the time stated that Gvozdenovic abused the function of the Minister of Urbanism and the companies of his best-man ("RR Inženjering" and "Kapacity") in 2010 issued building permits that allowed the construction of several surplus floors than it was allowed by the plan at the time for the village Momisici in Podgorica. Although we warned then that Gvozdenovic should be abolished due to the violation of the law, the Assembly of the Capital in 2012 adopted the amendments of the plan and thus legalized this agreement among the best-men. Amendments to the plan were initiated, at the time, by the Mayor Miomir Mugosa, who was also included in the criminal charges as an accomplice," said Milovac.

He said that "unfortunately, the prosecution at the time headed by Prosecutor Ranka Carapic rejected this criminal complaint by failing to fully investigate the relations between Gvozdenovic and Radojicic but also their interest in violating the law in this way." This is just one of the many criminal reports that over the last decade MANS filed against a longtime state official.

Just to recall, MANS reported Gvozdenovic for participation in the legalization of villas on Zavala, the privatization of St. Stefan, the clip "Snimak", enabling the investors, such as Brano Micunovic and the company of Darko Saric, to build conflicting the law, as well as the legalization of numerous buildings in Podgorica and on the coast through modification of planning documents when he enabled the privileged investors not only the acquisition of extra profit but also the avoidance of criminal liability. While it is well known in whose favor Gvozdenovic has violated the law for years, the Montenegrin Prosecutor’s Office has still not done anything to examine what was the price of those "favors", Milovac concluded.

Gvozdenovic: What MANS calls evidence is only the fabrication of the truth

MANS speaks about numerous criminal charges that they have filed against me and about "hundreds of pages of evidence", but MANS does not mention the fact which is more than obvious - that the prosecution regularly rejected these applications. That, I suppose, sufficiently speaks about the merits of their "evidence", the Vice-president of the Assembly Branimir Gvozdenović announced. He reacted to the allegations of the Network for Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector from which it was announced that the amount of evidence that has been piling up over the years against Branimir Gvozdenovic is becoming worrisome, but not nearly as much as the absence of an adequate reaction by the competent state authorities when it comes to this matter. Gvozdenovic assessed that the logic that MANS addresses the public "within their continuous campaign of unsubstantial and unfounded accusations" is astounding.

"In fact, even before filing each of the applications, MANS was always aware that my guilt is not real, that what they call evidence is actually a fabrication of the 'truth', such that the evidence for it cannot exist. Each of these applications was submitted due to the media attention, i.e. the organization of sensationalist press conferences on which I would be further accused. In other words, instead of MANS, after each dismissal of their criminal charges, informed the public, they continued on their own," Gvozdenović said.

He said that the truth cannot be created, nor the evidences can be found for the lies.

"They can with enough motive, and MANS, obviously, has them, create an apparition of truth, especially in the part of the public opinion that follows the political divisions in Montenegro," the vice-president of the Assembly concluded.

Source: Vijesti

26 Feb 2019, 13:42 PM

February 26, 2019 - The opposition should seek early elections, as entering the technical government would mean losing time and failing to deliver the desired results, claims Executive Director of the Center for Civic Education (CGO-CCE) Daliborka Uljarevic. She thinks the opposition should use public dissatisfaction and intensified attention by the international community to achieve better election results.

"Exit from this situation is in early elections to be monitored under full floodlights of all actors. The faults in the formation of the transitional governments can now cause damage to the opposition because the state apparatus has been strongly associated with the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), and the wrong patch the opposition can only cut off by a good election result. We already had the experience of a transitional or technical government that operated in a far more favourable environment, and this resulted in limited results. Today, the state administration is under the full control of the governing structure, and anyone who accepts it as a minister in front of the opposition would commit political suicide, " Uljarević claims.
 
Leaders of the opposition party, meeting with European Commissioner Johannes Han, said they would not participate in electoral reforms without the formation of a technical government. The opposition thinks that only the technical government can prepare the next elections, stressing that confidence in the election process is at its lowest level after the "Koverta" affair. The affair broke out after a video was released showing that a fugitive businessman Duško Knežević handed over to the then mayor of Podgorica, Slavoljub Stijepovic, an envelope in which, as claimed, 100,000 euros. Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic and Prime Minister Duško Markovic rejected the request for forming a technical government, stating that it was "a type of racket". They claim they are prepared to promote electoral legislation and have monitoring, but that "they do not agree to withdraw and invade the opposition".
 
Uljarevic believes that the opposition can not expect the repetition of the Macedonian scenario, where a transitional government that organised the elections was formed under the pressure of the European Union.
 
"It is clear that going to the polls with such institutions is a huge risk. But in the current context of awakened civic energy and DPS that shows many weaknesses, with the new attention of the international community, chances of a good opposition result are opened. The time that is planned to be spent through the technical government is the same time that DPS will use for its consolidation, " Daliborka Uljarevic says.
 
The demand for a technical government is the only concrete response of the opposition to the "Envelope" affair after a part of the opposition delegates led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) demanded that the affairs be discussed at an extraordinary session of parliament. While the Democratic Front (DF) announced an initiative for the resignation of the president of the state, it began organising civil protests in which resignations of state officials were required. SDP presidency member Ivan Vujovic believes that the opposition should take advantage of the citizens' reaction to the "Envelope" affair. Protests and demands for resignations, he argues, have shown that there is still public awareness in Montenegro.
 
"The citizen's response is the damn of the normality, courage and determination that everyone needed, and I would say even that the opposition, driven by the eloquence and energy of the free society, is itself more mature. We also see that the international response is no exception and that this communication with partners will be continued. It feels that nobody can stop the Montenegrin spring. Citizens no longer fear, but the fear of corrupt and alienated elites is felt, "Vujović pointed out.
 
Uljarevic warns that the opposition has not yet adequately politically used the "Koverta" affair, pointing out that the opposition parties did not show enough co-ordination and co-operation.
 
"It is also a surprise that the opposition is expected more than Duško Knežević, a major donor of DPS, and now faces demanded by the investigative organs of Montenegro. It is what I mean by information and documentation suggesting abuse by institutions and violations of laws by DPS and its leaders, which Knezevic claims to have in his possession. When direct policymakers are waiting for someone else to do some of their work or else the wind in the back is not good because it carries the danger of marginalizing the same actors, "Uljarević claims, while Vujovic believes the opposition has done a lot by initiating parliamentary debate on "Covers" through boards and plenums. "We have seen that DPS has fled the debate in the committees, and then pressed for the demands of the free public and the EU agreed to the assembly debate. That debate has finally severed the essence of government and through the demonstration of idolatrous and personality cake all the mere meaninglessness of a truly and alienated system," Vujović said.
 
25 Feb 2019, 21:50 PM

25 February 2019 - Minister of Foreign Affairs Srđan Darmanović participated in the 40th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. 

"The Government of Montenegro is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights at the national and international level," the Minister said, expressing strong support to the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 

He pointed out that in the times of crises, continuous violations of human rights, rising radical extremism, only coordinated action by all international actors and multilateral cooperation can achieve universal respect for human rights and ensure sustainable development, peace and security. 

Minister Darmanović pointed out the Government's commitment to strengthening the national dialogue on human rights, as well as the progress made in the area of promotion and protection of human rights in Montenegro, especially the rights of vulnerable groups, women, children, LGBT people, minorities, the elderly and persons with disabilities. 

He pointed out the importance of fulfilling obligations and expressed satisfaction that Montenegro is a pilot country for establishing a mechanism for monitoring and implementation of recommendations received from the UN Human Rights Bodies. 

On this occasion, Minister Darmanović also met with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer. The meeting welcomed the role of the ICRC as a key organisation addressing growing humanitarian needs, which is one of the priority challenges facing the international community. The need for stronger international cooperation was emphasised in order to ensure unhindered access to humanitarian assistance in endangered areas. Darmanović underlined the importance Montenegro attaches to this issue and pointed out numerous activities implemented in the previous period in cooperation between the Government and the Red Cross in Montenegro. Maurer welcomed the activities of the Government of Montenegro to finalise the establishment of the Commission for Humanitarian International Law, as well as the humanitarian assistance provided during the crisis period and the continuous contribution as a factor of stability in the region. 

On the sidelines of the 40th session of the Human Rights Council, Minister Darmanović also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. The two officials expressed the readiness to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of economy, tourism, renewable energy and air transport. 

At the meeting with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia Marija Pejčinović Burić, both sides reiterated the interest in further strengthening bilateral cooperation, as well as the willingness to improve cooperation through regional forums and at the international level.

24 Feb 2019, 21:18 PM

24 February 2019 - Protests in the Montenegrin city Bar, which started a few months ago due to the planned construction of a kindergarten near the Bar Gymnasium, continued with significantly fewer participants, reports News Agency Bar Info. After Prime Minister Duško Marković's decision to terminate the construction, representatives of the Civic Initiative are requesting for the government to find another location for the kindergarten, plant new cypresses and for those who ordered their cut to take responsibility.

"We won because we preserved a gymnasium yard and the park for future generations," said one of the organisers of the protest, Stefan Đukić, who stated the protestors’ new demands. He requested the authorities find another location for the kindergarten and to plant new cypresses.

"We did not manage to preserve the trees, and the one who ordered their cut now has to come out and say “I'm guilty”. We do not fight for plain interests, but for the common good. We stopped the construction of kindergartens at this place, where we would not just lose the park and the yard, but there would be a lot of traffic jams had the construction been completed. We also saved the kindergarten in Marshal Tito Street and the city of the so-called 'Budvanization' (the influence of the practice in Montenegrin city Budva), because as we have heard, the construction of an eight-story building was planned in its place," said Đukić.

Ilija Zeković stressed that the gathered people showed that their intentions were honest and that they had no hidden goals. "Our emotions, hugs and tears when we heard that the construction of kindergartens will be stopped clearly showed our intentions and denied the hidden goals and political motives that were attributed to us and which continue to be attributed to us. We were fighting for the interests of the citizens and for the general good, and that was suspicious to many. They do not believe that such people still exist," said Ilija Zeković, who emphasized that they are especially grateful to the professors who, as he said, "stood in front of the students and gave them the most important lesson of all".

Today, the professor who stood up for the common good was Gymnasium’s professor Jasna Šćekić who, among other things, said: "A memory is a stubborn thing – it simply refuses to die. Therefore, the city of Bar remembers".

After the usual gathering at the Bar Gymnasium, participants of the protest walked along the city streets to the Bar Municipal Building, where the attendees were addressed by Marija Pešić and Miloš Pečurica, and then returned to the courtyard of the Gymnasium, where, as they said, they celebrated the victory.

Source: Bar Info

24 Feb 2019, 20:57 PM

24 February 2019 -The Government adopted the Action Plan for Implementing the Integrated Border Management Strategy 2014-2018, for 2019, and adopted the Report on the Implementing Measures and Activities from the Action Plan for 2018. Last year, the improvement of the integrated border management system continued in line with the recommendations and best practices of the European Union. Among other things, the Draft Law Amending the Law on Border Control was established, the new Law on Foreigners was successfully implemented, as well as the capacities for the flow of asylum seekers, as well as the activities and capacities of the Border Police in the conduct of border control. Also, cross-border police cooperation and activities on the suppression of cross-border organised crime were enhanced, activities were undertaken to resolve bilateral issues with neighbouring countries, as well as activities on the implementation of signed international treaties on the state border, border crossings and border traffic.

Implementing Action Plan was considered very important for meeting the criteria and achieving the European security system, strengthening the ability to take over obligations arising from membership in the European Union, and aligning with Schengen requirements as key challenges in the process of Montenegro's EU accession.

At the same occasion, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategy for Integrated Migration Management in Montenegro 2017-2020 for 2018, which emphasises that nearly a hundred percent achievement of the planned measures and effective implementation of the policy of controlling migration movements. The Report states that the most important activities in the area of migration in Montenegro in the previous period were the adoption of a new Law on International and Temporary Protection of Aliens and the Law on Foreigners. European Union standards in the area of migration are largely transposed into both laws, and their implementation will bring about delicate changes in terms of the quality and efficiency of this system.

The Government also approved the 15th report on the implementation of the Strategy for the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism, Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing 2015-2018 and the Action Plan 2017 - 2018 for the reporting period from July to December 2018.

The Information on the Proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions and the German NGO "Help Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe" was also adopted by the Government. The implementation of the project components defined by the Memorandum contributes to the expansion of prisoner 's working activities within the prison system, as well as their successful rehabilitation and reintegration. The state allocated 15,000 euros for these purposes, and the donation in the same amount was provided by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Stability Pact for South East Europe.

The Government approved the Information on the amendments to the Agreement on the transfer of credit and grants for the needs of the project "Wastewater Collection and Treatment in Podgorica" financed from a loan arrangement signed on 22 September 2017 between the German Development Bank (KfW) and the Government of Montenegro in the amount of 35 million euros. According to the revised agreement, the Capital City was given a period of sixty days in order to have the time to implement the necessary procedures and fulfil the contractual obligation towards the State.

24 Feb 2019, 11:11 AM

February 24, 2019 - The organisers of the "97,000-Odupri Se" protest, at last night's meeting in Podgorica, have announced new demands: the irrevocable resignation of members of the Public Service Council and General Director of Montenegrin Radio Television (RTCG) Bozidar Sundic. Despite the terrible weather conditions, around 10,000 citizens from all Montenegrin cities participated in the third round of protest.

The protest began at the Independence Square, or, as the organisers called it - the Independent Citizen's Square and the completed in front of the RTCG building, where protesters dumped toilet paper rolls and screamed "Liars". Citizens made noise with drums and whistles, while RTCG broadcasted it on the central news.
 
protest in podgorica 1Gathering at the Independance Square, Copyright: "97,000 Odupri Se" FB Page
 
At the Independence Square, thousands of people gathered exclaiming words: "We're a State", "We Want Justice,” "Milo thief", "Katnic Go Away", "Resignations" and "All on the streets".
 
During the protest in front of the state institutions, there was a noticeably increased police presence, but no incidents occurred. Police officers did not carry equipment to break the demonstration, except the police cordon at RTCG and members who were in transit between the Government and the Montenegrin Assembly buildings. One of the organisers Demir Hodzic called on citizens not to allow provocations and incidents. 
 
"These are nonviolent protests and will remain so. Someone who tries to make problems is not part of us, " Hodzic said emphasising there are no free institutions in Montenegro.
 
Dramatist Lela Milosevic told the citizens that freedom was not unconditional and that citizens were free until they violated some of the laws of society and the country in which they live.
 
"When we break the freedom, we would have to be taken away. And did we break the laws of society and the country in which we live? We did not! And are all the law offenders in Montenegro deprived of liberty? No! That's why the price of their freedom we pay well and feel about our skin, not guilty or obliged," she said.
 
Milosevic added that the reason for the street gathering is that “Montenegrin citizens are deprived of liberty and laws are not equal for everyone".
 
"That is why we have decided for peaceful, democratic protests to seek the release of all state institutions, the judicial system, all state resources, to make them function in the interest of the state and the people, not in the service of the prosperity of the ruling individuals. We are looking for the liberation of the captured government, to enter into those people who will represent the interests of the citizens and the state, not personal and rogue interests," she said.
 
To those who characterise citizen protests as hostile and anti-state, Milosevic said that citizens who went out to the streets are not the enemies of the state.
 
"I'll send them their vocabulary to understand: Easy! These are heavy accusations! You could quickly answer them. Enemies and destroyers are among you, those who hunt for electricity, we know well why. Enemies are those who work exclusively for personal interest and against the interests of their people and the state. These are the enemies, not us," she said.
 
protest b pejovicThousands of people gathered in Podgorica, photo: Boris Pejovic, Vijesti
 
The allegations by the media that various domestic and foreign services are behind the protest organisation, actor Slavisa Grubisa said that "behind these protests is the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS)."
 
"They took us to the street. DPS made an effort to make citizens of this country feel like second-rate citizens. They exchange hundreds of thousands of euros in their cages and give us the minimum for paying them new and bigger electricity bills! Well, we do not approve of that. We are Montenegro's first line of defence," Grubisa said.
 
He also recalled that the citizens had just received a battle in Bar at the very moment of the protests.
 
"But they are so wicked that they win their overwhelming decisions and still want to get rid of it. We will not allow Bar to stay without a new kindergarten, and some will answer for now obviously completely unnecessary harvest of trees. There is no abandonment of the free peoples of Montenegro! Change is in us. Patient and persistent, to the end! Let's face it," Grubisa said.
 
"Those who have not yet decided to go to the street," Mara Scepanovic, a professor at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Montenegro, addressed the words of the poet Sergei Yesenin: "Do not allow yourself to be indifferent, of which man never recovers."
 
protest rtcg boris pejovicProtestants in front of RTCG building, photo by Boris Pejovic, Vijesti
 
Describing the reasons for the urgent resignation of those responsible in the Public Broadcast Service, Omer Sarkic from the protest organisation committee said that the public broadcaster is now the same as the one in the 1990s.
 
"It is not a public but a party-propaganda service. It has 30 years of disinformation, quarrelling, dividing, instead of informing us, educating, connecting. Today we are here to come together and finally firmly resist this. That is why we ask that the RTCG Council and the Director General of RTCG immediately submit irrevocable resignations. There was enough of their noise and brute. Our noise at the time of their central news should be the answer to their premature brutality," said Sarkic.
 
"And in the previous two protests" 97,000 - resist ", organised on February 2 and 16, the number of gathered citizens has surpassed our expectations. For the first protest, we prepared 97, and for the second 970 envelopes. However, in both cases, ten times more citizens came out on the street," the organisers said.
 
Protestors repeated requests for the resignations of the Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, Prime Minister Dusko Markovic, Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnic, and the Anticorruption Agency Director Sreten Radonjic.
 
They said they would not give up the protest until the state institutions are free and independent and announced that the new gathering would be organised next Saturday by delivering new demands. 
23 Feb 2019, 22:17 PM

23 February 2019 - Representatives of Government of Montenegro hosted Secretary-General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu. Implementation of policies and decisions we are making must be in our focus in order to create new opportunities for young people in the Balkans and reduce their need to go abroad, it was noted at the meeting. 

Representatives of the Government of Montenegro expressed their full support to the work of the Regional Cooperation Council and congratulated the Secretary-General on assuming her duties, and added that through active participation in this and other regional initiatives, Montenegro promotes dialogue, understanding and tolerance as a prerequisite for stability, and therefore for economic growth and development and better life of citizens. 

"The connectivity within the Berlin Process is very important for us in all key areas: trade, infrastructure, mobility and digital agendas," as said by the representatives of the Government of Montenegro, and reiterated that Montenegro will always be Regional Cooperation Council's reliable partner. 

Bregu said that the Regional Cooperation Council focuses on the regional economic area, with a special emphasis on the digital agenda and mobility, and in that regard emphasised that the Regional Cooperation Council is working on the issues of elimination of roaming in the region, pointing to the importance of this initiative for its citizens. Ahead of the next summit within the Berlin Process initiative, which will be held in Poznan in July, both sides agreed that everything should be done at the level of the countries of the region in order to achieve this and other initiatives and bring concrete results for the Western Balkans.

23 Feb 2019, 22:08 PM

23 February 2019 - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Zoran Pažin recently met with Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. Montenegro has made visible progress in the key areas of rule of law which the European Commission pointed out in its latest annual report, DPM Pažin said at the meeting. 

"The results that Montenegro achieves in the consistent implementation of European policies, primarily through the protection and promotion of the freedoms, rights and security of our citizens, give us the right to expect the support of partners from EU to the faster progress in the accession process," the Deputy Prime Minister noted. 

He estimated that the decisive efforts of state authorities against organised crime resulted in numerous arrests of members of criminal groups, prevention of a number of serious crimes and significant progress in key investigations. 

Commissioner Hahn expressed the expectation that this year, during his mandate, the European Commission will be able to conclude that Montenegro has met interim benchmarks in negotiating chapters 23 and 24, giving clear guidelines for the final closure of negotiations in these chapters. 

The meeting was also attended by Minister of Science Sanja Damjanović, who presented the project for the establishment of the South-East Europe International Institute for Sustainable Technologies. 

The Minister expressed gratitude to the European Commission for the significant financial support in the development of this scientific project, which according to her has the potential to become one of the leading projects within the European Neighbourhood Policy. 

Establishing the Institute is Montenegro's initiative aimed at strengthening scientific and technological cooperation, strengthening scientific capacities and preventing the outflow of talent from the region.

23 Feb 2019, 12:09 PM

February 23, 2019 - The public protest in Montenegro, known as "97,000-Odupri Se" (97,000-Resist), after gathering around 10,000 citizens last Saturday, continues today, 23 February with another protest walk in Podgorica, scheduled for 6 pm to start from the Independence Square.

The protest campaign started on 2 February by the performance of 97 citizens - 97 "1000 EUR" Envelopes, attended by around a thousand people who joined the walk along the Street of Liberty and the proclamation before the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office. The protest started after the recent “Envelope” affair, which confirmed the ruling DPS illegally financed elections in 2016. But, as emphasized, this is just one of the numerous cases shaking Montenegro in the last three decades not being prosecuted by responsible state institutions.   
 
Second gathering overcame all expectations and confirmed that a lot of Montenegrin citizens believe our political system does not function due to robbed institutions and high corruption present on all levels. The citizens ask for the resignation of the Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, Prime Minister Dusko Markovic, Supreme State Prosecutor Ivica Stankovic, and Special State Prosecutor Milivoje Katnic and promise to deliver new demands at today's gathering in Podgorica.
 
On this occasion, the organizers are calling the Independence Square "the Square of Free Citizens," from where the protest walk will pass by the facilities of the leading state institutions to the RTCG and back.
One of the members of the initial committee of the civic movement “97,000- Odupri Se”, Milos Krivokapic, said in the program "Nacisto" on Vijesti Television that the new demands of citizens, to be announced at the third protest, agreed in intensive communication with citizens, from which support comes from all parts of Montenegro.
 
The citizens call for today's protest informed that they planned a circular route for the protest walk, which will start with the "Independent Citizen's Square" by the Freedom Street to the Sveti Petar Cetinjski Boulevard. 
"From the Boulevard we will turn to the Clinical Center and stop in front of the building of the RTCG where additional requests from the citizens, about which we are in permanent communication, will find a common consensus. We will return to the Boulevard of Revolution to the Sports Center, then via Sveti Petar Cetinjski Boulevard back to the “Independent Citizen's Square. On this route, we will visit many institutions that we did not address directly last week," the organizers said. They claim that the entire political system in Montenegro is corrupted to the point that society needs fundamental changes, which should be led by the citizens.
 
The protest "97,000-Odupri Se" includes an increasing number of citizens of Montenegro, and many organizations have supported the movement, including the Academic Community of Montenegro, Organization of Persons with Disabilities, numerous NGOs and citizen's initiatives. 
 
Opposition political parties provide logistical support in the form of transport organization from other cities, as well as parallel protests, but hold the organize's suggestions that they are not interested in any party interests and will not allow instrumentalization of protests in this regard.
 
"Like last week, our gathering has passed peacefully, and with dignity, so we expect to pass through every one of the following. We appeal to citizens to join us without any party, national or other features. We are especially pleased that this week the citizens of the Organization of Persons with Disabilities showed confidence, and our service will pay special attention to their security," the organizers of protests emphasized. 
They are inviting citizens to assist the security service and react to the provocation of any kind by contacting the nearest officer and to not allow "any violent incident to jeopardize our legal right to defend the Constitution of Montenegro in the only free institution that has remained to us - the streets."
 
22 Feb 2019, 12:43 PM

At a press conference with the European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and enlargement negotiations Johannes Hahn, the Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said that the initiative for forming a technical government is an unjustified and politically unacceptable demand.

Markovic said that the government was working in full capacity, that there is no political crisis and the opposition's request for the formation of a technical government was considered legitimate, but not realistic.


"Everybody on the political scene has the right to make political demands in the way they think it is the most appropriate in their interests. For me, this request is unjustified and politically unacceptable. We have more important issues to deal with, Montenegro must realize its goals, accelerate economic growth, and create new jobs," Markovic said.

He believes that this political request is not real and that the government can perform its function as long as it has support in the Parliament. Markovic said that the boycott was legitimate, but not pro-active and that the institutions are the place to resolve the issue. In his words, moving to the streets is legitimate, and this is a model that is applied in the region as well.


"This is obviously a new opposition model, and we have nothing against it, it is important for us that the institutions are operational. The government is working at full capacity," Markovic said and suggested the opposition to choose its way of acting. All this, he says, is monitored by the government.

"To give in to such demands is not realistic," Markovic said, adding that it is better for everyone to return to their jobs in the Working Group, which is supported by the EU as well.

"My invitation is to go in that direction, and I'm not an optimist. Basically, there is no reason for dramatization," Markovic said. "We have political tension, dissatisfaction, demands, but not a crisis," said Markovic.

Hahn said he is aware that the opposition in Montenegro is dealing with all that was happening in northern Macedonia.

"It is up to each country to deal with specific solutions," Hahn said, adding that he did not see the need for the EU to participate.

"Everyone has the right to an individual assessment of the situation. Everyone should be free to make their own assessment," Hahn said.

The European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and enlargement negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said that Montenegro "has a clear perspective towards the EU".

"Boycott of the Parliament is not a European way to solve the problem," Hahn said. He added that the debate must take place in the Parliament.

The commissioner said that the protest organizers contacted him to meet. He explained that this was not possible due to the departure and that he asked the head of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro, Aiva Orava, to meet with them on his behalf.

Hahn said that he was monitoring the situation in the area of media freedom.

"I am worried about the pressure on the Public Broadcaster, the attacks on journalists, and the cyber-attacks," Hahn said.

Answering the question of whether there are double criteria in the media attacks, Hahn said that "everyone has responsibility," and that everyone should refrain from the attack.

"I am talking about physical attacks, if we are talking about a political debate, it's something that we all have to accept, and I expect respect among the parties and institutions involved. I think you can exchange views in one way or another. What I want is to establish communication, even if you have different views. More mutual respect is needed," Hahn said.

Text by Total MNE News, Source Vijesti, on February 23rd, 2019

21 Feb 2019, 22:31 PM

21 February 2019 - Prime Minister Duško Marković said today in Podgorica while opening the Ministerial meeting on the transition of the Western Balkan countries to clean energy, that the region's energy fully shares the basic characteristics of a single European energy, that Montenegro will even exceed the ambitious plan for the share of renewable energy sources, and that there is no giving up on ecological Montenegro.

"The issue of economic development is inseparable from the development of energy, and energy, as a strategic branch, implies a well-thought-out and long-term plan. Fortunately, the countries of the Western Balkans have a global leader as their partner in this crucial business. For decades, the European Union has set standards for sustainable development and clean, climate-neutral energy. In that sense, today's job, of the honourable ministers, is essentially facilitated. The unequivocal commitment of the countries of the region to European integration is an important determinant of long-term national energy policies and strategies. Montenegro does not have doubts here. Although extremely small, our energy system shares the basic characteristics of unique European energy. Import dependence, the challenges of environmental protection, improving energy efficiency, energy receptivity and energy for our citizens and the economy, are the issues that this and every other responsible government in the European Union tackle," the Prime Minister said.

Minister Duško Marković said that Montenegro's path is clear, adding that one of the largest solar power plants in Europe will be built in the country,

"Montenegro is already certain to reach and exceed the ambitious national goal for the share of renewable energy in final consumption by 2020. We pay a high price for this, but we remain confident that the validity of this bold commitment will be confirmed in the medium term. Initial failures should not lead us to a dilemma of whether to give up on the essentially noble idea. We will not give up on ecological Montenegro. But this also implies correction of omissions and permanent improvement of applied models," the Prime Minister stressed.

Ministerial Meeting on the Transition of the Western Balkan in Montenegro

The Prime Minister of Montenegro said that it is no coincidence that the roots of regional cooperation and modern Europe date back to coal and steel.

"Not even in 1951, energy and industry issues were not discussed in isolated national frameworks. And today, in the light of the clear need for decarbonisation and energy transition, the technical need for integration of the continent is greater than ever. The countries of the Western Balkans, when they were not there at the time of full expansion of coal as a fuel, should not miss the opportunity to be part of a society that will leave it first," the Prime Minister concluded.

European Commission for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn also spoke at the opening of the conference.

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