If Montenegro were an even remotely normal country and we had an even remotely “normal” Constitutional Court, the situation we are currently in would be resolved in one, about 15-minutes-long session of that court, with an amendment bringing changes to the contradictory regulations related to the conditions for the retirement of judges and acceptance of solutions that apply to everyone, Professor Nebojsa B. Vucinic told Pobjeda daily, regarding the problematic situation in this part of the judicial system, triggered by the decision of the Constitutional Committee to retire judge Dragana Djuranovic.
“However, it is what it is. In my opinion, all Montenegro institutions have been blocked by the ruling majority, I’d say we’re witnessing the tyranny of that majority. Institutions have been blocked, and, to be frank, I don’t see how this can be solved. I think the opinion of the Venice Commission would be valuable, healing and would bring benefits to us, but all actors must promise to comply with it,” Professor Vucinic pointed out.
Although it’s an advisory body, the Professor believes the Venice Commission is a body of the highest moral, professional, legal and political authority in the Council of Europe.
“We’re stuck so waiting for the opinion of the Venice Commission won’t cause additional problems. Considering the existing political context, we may expect the Constitutional Court to be blocked even more,” said Mr Vucinic, adding he wasn’t pessimistic, but was just trying to be realistic.
Commenting on the recently held first round of talks on the open issues between Montenegro and Croatia, that is, between the state secretaries of the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries, Perisa Kastratovic and Frano Matusic, Prof. Vucinic said “that meeting is common in the context of EU integration”.
“Negotiations are the first means in solving disputes. If the parties conclude that their views are totally different, there’s a series of peaceful ways for solving disputes and finally the International Court of Justice.”
Asked whether it was realistic to expect progress in the stabilisation of relations between the two, having in mind the existing heads of the ministries of defence, European and foreign affairs, Prof. Vucinic assessed that given the significance and complexity of the issues, especially the dispute over Prevlaka, the most authoritative structure should involve, at the political, intellectual and expert level.
