Commenting on the protests scheduled for September 27th, the Prime Minister said it was difficult to explain that someone who had gained parliamentary status on democratic general elections left that position and was trying to trigger changes in a non-institutional way.
“You cannot be indifferent to such a thing. You have to wonder how they intend to do so. If someone leaves the institutions and wants to establish a Government non-institutionally, that means he/she wants violence. No one will be allowed to act violently in Montenegro,” the Prime Minister said.
Mr Djukanovic also had a message for the organisers of the protest.
“We have invested a lot of efforts to achieve certain values in which we enjoy today. We have defended the peace and inter-ethnic harmony, restored the state and led it to NATO and economic sustainability. This is the swan song. For those who remained opposed to all the values, this is a message that they must try to ensure majority and affirmation of their values through democratic institutions. No matter how unhappy they are, they must not allow themselves to be led by political manipulators through their political adventures. I believe majority of citizens are aware of that and that they will not allow the manipulation”, Mr Djukanovic said.
He also commented on the recent incidents during public hearings on the Draft Law on Freedom of Religion in Bijelo Polje and Kotor.
“We have to qualify that as a lack of democratic capacity to talk. Instead of suggestions, discussions, objections, we got impassioned ideological and religious views aimed at challenging the right of the state to regulate an area. I cannot understand that otherwise than as a message that this should be regulated by God and those God’s envoys, leaving no room for the State. No one can threaten a certain achievement of Montenegro – interreligious and interethnic harmony. Everyone can adventurously try to inevitably stop the democratic process in Montenegro, but it is a very clear message – no one can succeed in doing that. No one can aspire to change anything in Montenegro through violence from their minority position. Nothing can be done by violence and non-institutionally,” the Prime Minister said, adding that they would carefully consider all received comments and objections.
Mr Djukanovic also said that the messages received yesterday and today related to getting NATO invitation were very encouraging.
Namely, the United States will support sending NATO invitation to Montenegro in December with very important assumptions of continuing to strengthen the rule of law and ensuring strong public support for achieving this strategic goal, the U.S. Vice President, Joseph Biden, said in a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister yesterday.
“I believe that a serious uncertainty we all were burdened by has been less strong today than in previous months. The fact is that after yesterday’s talks with the American side, we can say with a lot more certainty today that Montenegro can become a NATO member state in December. It remains our duty to continue to do what is expected of us in the rest of the year – to strengthen public support and improve results in terms of the rule of law”, Mr Djukanovic said.
Mr Djukanovic informed Mr Biden yesterday about strengthening public support for NATO membership and improving results in the field of rule of law.
“We agreed that the work will not be completed by either the Ministerial meeting in December or our conversation last night. Montenegro must continue working hard and improving results and I believe that it will also be our duty after joining NATO. We are ready for that. I believe we can much more optimistically and realistically expect the invitation in December,” the PM concluded.
