By ignoring US Vice President Mike Pence’s call to return to parliament, Montenegrin opposition missed the last chance to present itself as an alternative to the government, said the chairman of the Committee on International Relations and Emigrants Andrija Nikolic.
During a meeting with US Ambassador Margaret Ann Uyehara, Nikolic pointed out that such deliberate failure to understand the benevolent suggestions of top international officials was not surprising.
“It is not the first time that the leaders of the Montenegrin opposition demonstrate that their accumulated hatred against the ruling party and its chairman hinders them in fulfilling their task of serving its nation as elected representatives of citizens,” said Nikolic, the Parliament announced.
According to Nikolic, the fact that the leaders of the civic opposition passed over publicly expressed Pence’s position on the attempts of Russian agents to destabilise Montenegro on election day and to kill the former prime minister.
Nikolic said that Pence’s visit took place at the right moment for Montenegro and Euro-Atlantic allies, primarily in terms of strengthening Montenegro’s position on the political and security map of the region, but also as a direct reply to those who are constantly trying to destabilise the Western Balkans.
According to Nikolic, this is at the same time the most convincing demonstration of the quality of US – Montenegro relations.
He thanked Uyehara for the continued US support to Montenegro in the most turbulent phases of recent history “when civil peace had to be preserved, as well as the right to decide on our own future”.
Nikolic also expressed the expectation that Pence’s recent visit to Montenegro and the clarity of his messages would be an additional incentive for all progressive forces in the country and the region to be even more actively engaged in promoting the values of democracy and the rule of law.
As he said, this is a road map to a better and fairer living and working environment for every person.
