You are reading a daily contextual review of the news that marked the previous day.
On the eve of the Independence Day of Montenegro, torches were lit last night on Lovćen and fireworks were set off. Take a look at what it looked like.
A trip to Lovćen and the celebration of 21 May is organized from several Montenegrin cities, but due to the crowds, it is planned to leave for Cetinje earlier. The organizers have published the meeting plan, as well as recommendations and instructions for the participants.
A celebration or a commemorative gathering?
The Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament organized a formal reception on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Montenegro’s independence. Someone noticed that there were more opposition members at that gathering than those who support this Government. PM Zdravko Krivokapić said that the Government’s priority was the creation of a citizen-oriented state, and expressed hope that conditions would be created for a civic center that would enable the future for all citizens. He said at the reception on the occasion of the Independence Day of Montenegro that the Government is fully committed to opposing criminal systems. Speaker of Parliament Aleksa Bečić pointed out that the celebration of Independence Day must not be anyone’s privilege and that everyone should be happy. President Milo Đukanović did not appear but sent a greeting card.
Total disintegration of URA
The former president of URA Civic Movement, and the former president of the Council of that organization, Mr Žarko Rakčević, has left this organization. Academician Šerbo Rastoder, General Blagoje Grahovac and several other people did the same. This is just another in a series of dropouts of this organization that has been abandoned by numerous intellectuals and members. The reasons for leaving are, as prof. Rastoder said, deviating from the basic principles of the movement and agreeing to partners’ blackmails. Many others also speak of the arbitrariness of the leaders of this organization. URA is sinking into total marginalization, if not disappearing, and it will be remembered as a means that served for one, I hope, unsuccessful serving Montenegro to the Greater Serbia project. After the leading people of the movement had left the party, URA announced a congress this summer. As one of the few leaders of the Resistance Movement, Mr Omer Šarkić, who did not compromise his cooperation with this Government, noticed – URA has now opened the door for Mr Vladimir Leposavić to enthrone its Council.
Troubles with consensus
Democratic Front MP Jovan Vučurović asked Minister Spajić in Parliament yesterday to answer what happened to the finances for the census. Minister of Finance and Social Welfare Milojko Spajić answered that it was planned to hold a census this year, for which €2.5m was allocated for Monstat and €350,000 from joint procurement. “The census is planned in this budget. It is a political decision whether it will take place or not”, said Mr Spajić.
Criminal charges against Minister Mitrović
Yesterday, MANS pressed criminal charges with the competent Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Kotor against Minister of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism Ratko Mitrović and his son Matija Mitrović, on suspicion of committing the crime of building a facility without reporting and construction documentation.
Wilson: Montenegro secures lasting sovereignty
The great success of independent Montenegro in the past 15 years is that it has secured permanent sovereignty through NATO membership, executive vice-president of the American Atlantic Council Damon Wilson said in an interview for the Voice of America. Mr Wilson said that, although there are rational reasons for building constructive relations with Serbia, Montenegro must protect its interests, and Belgrade must respect its independence.
That’s it for today. See you on Lovćen!
