Having this parameters in mind, Montenegro is ahead of other Western Balkan countries.
“In these 10 years, the GDP has increased 70 percent. There are 40,000 more employees. The average salary increased by 70 percent and pensions 100 percent”, Mr. Đukanović said during the “Live Truth” show on RTCG, reports Antena M.
This is still far from European standards, admits Djukanovic, but compared with neighbors, Montenegro is the closest.
Commenting on the fact that some still describe Montenegro as a country with high levels of crime and corruption, with many mafia clans, Djukanovic says that if this were true, Montenegro would not be at the door of NATO, or on a successful trajectory towards EU.
He added there’s no doubt Montenegro is suffering of these ailments, just like any other country in the world, but underlined that things today are way better than 10 years ago.
He also said the most important thing right now is to compromise about any and all outstanding issues, so that democracy may continue to develop and Montenegro may continue with its plans to exploit its untapped resources.
Prime Minister recalled that a decade ago, on the night of the referendum, many feared whether the 45 percent of citizens who were against the independence would seek to destabilize the country. Today, he says, there are less than 10 percent of those who remain opponents.
“For me, this is a success and the result of political investment in this part of the public”, Djukanovic said.
Asked what he would change if he could go back to 2006, Mr. Djukanovic automatically answers – education.
“I believe education is crucial to the question of national development”, he explained.
In the next decade, Montenegro will be a NATO/EU member, more stable and more developed, Prime Minister said adding that everything is ready for marking the first big Independence Day.
