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Ten to Eight – Timeo Danaos

You are reading a daily contextual review of the news that marked the previous weekend.

By Ljubomir Filipović, CdM observer

(Don’t) look a gift horse in the mouth

Last night, the news echoed that, after North Macedonia, Serbia would donate vaccines to Montenegro, at the request of the leader of the Democratic Front (DF), Mr Andrija Mandić. This was right on the day when the DF is supposed to submit the list for the elections in Nikšić. These are the elections, in relation to which over 5,000 texts were published in the Serbian media in the previous ten days.

The donation of Mr Aleksandar Vučić was most quickly greeted by Mr Dritan Abazović, who probably technically agreed with the PM of Serbia Ana Brnabić after Mr Mandić issued a directive to them to do so.

The vaccines are indispensable for Montenegro, but unfortunately in the case of Serbia and in the case of us, there is a political influence in the region. In Serbia, Russia and China do that, and Serbia continues to do that regionally, mostly to the detriment of the citizens of Serbia themselves.

I thank the citizens of Serbia from the bottom of my heart for the donation, although Mr Vučić did not consult them on whether to share the vaccines that are intended for them.

Now it remains to be seen who will be the first to be vaccinated, because the situation in health care is catastrophic, and about 160 people have died since the rejection of donations from private donors.

Criticism gives result

After serious and direct protests by the EU over the adoption of “prosecutorial laws”, part of the parliamentary majority decided to back down after receiving the EU messages. The third extraordinary session will most likely be canceled.

Earlier in the day, the PM said that by passing the law, they would cross the red line in relations with the EU. There is no doubt that the DF will profit politically on this, and there is no doubt that the PM, the Democrats and the URA made the only right move. This is not about whether we think that the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT) has done its job well or badly, but that the institutions, the Constitution and the laws must be respected. The only thing that worries me is the message that this is only a temporary withdrawal of the law and the fact that the DF will get the wind in its sails before the elections in Nikšić because they “proved” that “they are faith and the others are non-faith”.

Prosecutorial issues

Special State Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić was a guest at the Telescopija show edited by Ms Tamara Nikčević, where he referred to all current issues.

He spoke about the pressures, the trial against the Democrats, the overturning of the verdict at the Court of Appeals, as well as the political pressures on the prosecutor’s office.

Yesterday, Mr Andrija Mandić confirmed that and again requested the dismissal of Mr Katnić, saying that the leaving of him and corrupt people has no alternative.

The Action for Human Rights reacted sharply to the publication of transcripts from the SDT and demanded the opening of disciplinary proceedings against Mr Katnić.

According to Vijesti, the publication of the transcripts raised eyebrows in Brussels as well.

Insecure security sector

The topic of Mr Stevan Simijanović again fueled doubts about the porosity of our security sector.

This was also discussed at the meeting between President Milo Đukanović and the UK Ambassador.

MP and the former minister of defense, Mr Predrag Bošković, was a guest in Different Radio Connection edited by Mr Darko Šuković and again asked the question about who Messrs. Simijanović, Ćulibrk and Gulevski, who URA welcomed and toured around Montenegro, were.

MP Raško Konjević asked the ANB for information about Mr Simijanović. Yesterday, Pobjeda raised the question of why the ANB and Mr Abazović allowed the fake diplomat to leave the country.

Diplomatic scandal

A real drama was happening in Beijing, when the embassy staff took advantage of the holiday absence of Ambassador Darko Pajović and prevented him from entering the embassy before the official recall.

Prior to that, they allegedly searched his personal belongings in search of the embassy seal. I just imagine that embassy secretary P.B. who until a few days ago was Mr Pajović’s colleague, and yesterday he locked the door in front of his nose. Bad job. Ambassador Pajović spoke about this situation.

And while they are dealing with Mr Pajović in this way, it is a little harder for them to do the same with Mr Miodrag Vlahović in the Vatican, to whose activities they seem to have no answer.

Some ambassadors whose recall was requested said that they would respect the President’s decision, but that until then they would not act in accordance with the orders from the ministry.

The President’s office also reacted to the whole situation. They said that the President would respect the Constitution and the agreement with the representatives of the Government of Montenegro.

Arrests and reports in Budva

The Deputy PM boasted about the arrest again yesterday.

This time, the president of the Budva DPS committee and the director of the Agency for Coastal Zone Management, Mr Predrag Jelušić, the former director of this company, Mr Rajko Barovic, as well as the president of the agency’s board of directors, Mr Aleksandar Tičić, were arrested. The brief information says that they were arrested on suspicion that, contrary to the law, they enabled the transfer of state land to private ownership.

Criminal charges were also filed against another high-ranking Budva DPS official, Ms Snežana Kuč, on suspicion of tax evasion.

She addressed the media and responded to the accusations.

Other – ministerial activities

Minister Milojko Spajić announced yesterday that the Government traded two planes for a company that cost us €21m. The process again seemed non-transparent. It is very interesting to recall the initial story that the formation of the new company will not cost a single cent, a story that was placed by Mr Spajić.

MANS reacted to the visit of Minister Aleksandar Stijović to the farm of Mr Marko Bato Carević.

In a rather sharp and serious statement, Mr Dejan Milovac says he is “concerned by the fact that Minister Stijović, despite learning about the dubious process of building that farm, decided to provide public support to Mr Carević and his illegal project in Krimovica in this way”.

So much for today. See you tomorrow at the same time and the same place.

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