Good morning! A large number of Ukrainian refugees are already arriving in Montenegro – what we can do to make their stay here easier? Negotiations over the government have started, and the first dissonant tones from the DF as well; arrogant officials are threatening and insulting people on social networks; the mayor of Kotor refuses to show solidarity with Ukraine.
Before I start, I recommend that you read Boban Batricevic’s column on gradski.me – Questionnaire for the little night wolf (alluding to Dritan Abazovic).
Follow the events in Ukraine live on CdM.
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What can we do for refugees from Ukraine?
About two million citizens of Ukraine have left their country since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Some of them have taken refuge in Montenegro. Some are happy to have real estate here, and some like this married couple have remained stuck on a trip to Montenegro, and are now waiting for their children to join them. There are numerous individual examples of solidarity of Montenegrin citizens who wish to remain anonymous. One man from Budva donated his accommodation facilities for the citizens of Ukraine, for example. But in addition to individual spontaneous examples, the state also needs to do something systemic. Many European countries make it easier for Ukrainians to stay during the crisis by making it easier for them to obtain residence and work permits, and exempt them from taxes and duties. Yesterday, I received a copy of the payment slip, which is proof of the payment of the tourist tax of a family from Ukraine in the amount of €30. I think that the state of Montenegro could start with some such symbolic moves and help people in trouble to save every penny they need.
To help the citizens of Ukraine in finances, food, medicine and other necessities, it is best to turn to the local Red Cross.
Negotiations underway
The memorandum signatories met for the first time after a positive SNP response and announced new meetings. We know so much for now. The opposition seems to be expected to support them whatever they agree on. The opposition is now increasingly mentioning the insight into the program of the new government as a condition of support, and whether it is just a pro forma story and a way to calm down the part of the opposition public that is against the formation of such a government remains to be seen.
Dissonant tones within the DF are interesting, although Branka Bosnjak has known before that she stands out in principle beyond the rest of the DF, as about the resolution in Srebrenica. The DPM Bosnjak is now the only one in that bloc who does not satanize the SNP, and says that a session should be scheduled. She does not think that DPM Ibrahimovic can schedule it, but she thinks that Bulajic must do it.
Democrats and URA argue S12E05
It’s the soap opera between the former coalition partners continues. Emotions do not allow them to easily forget each other. MPs Saranovic and Konatar are arguing over who cares more about seats and who will be to blame if the excise taxes on fuel are not reduced. The horrors of post-populism.
An attack on Montenegro would be an escalation of the war
Montenegro and the Balkans are not in immediate danger in the same way as Ukraine was, and any threat to NATO members, such as Montenegro, would be a great escalation of the existing war, said the British Ambassador to Podgorica, Karen Maddocks. “Montenegro is a country that is subject to influences outside the borders. The best defense is to build a resilient state with strong institutions, and by that I mean independent media, active civil society, police and the judiciary, and a functional Parliament”, Meddocks told RTCG.
The village is on fire, and Milatovic is combing his hair
While the war is raging in Ukraine, and while the aggressor countries are facing sanctions, Minister Jakov Milatovic continues to make projections as if these are not important or even the most important emitting markets when it comes to Montenegrin tourism. One billion from tourism – that is how much Montenegro could earn from the upcoming season, is the projection of the Minister of Economic Development Jakov Milatovic, who came to Budva to visit another in a series of renovations of Slovenian beach during the four decades since construction.
The arrogance of officials on social networks
NGO Vozom kroz Crnu Goru called on the Minister of Capital Investments Mladen Bojanic to dismiss the acting director of the Railway Administration Zelimir Zeljko Radinovic due to, as they say, inappropriate behavior on social networks, insults and untruths related to the announcement of the license for Combined Transport Montenegro. You can see everything that Radinovic, who supports DF, wrote on Facebook here.
Jokic refuses to illuminate the ramparts in the colors of the Ukrainian flag
The Municipal Board of DPS Kotor criticized the city administration for not responding to their initiative for the 14th day to show support for the people of Ukraine by lighting the city gates.
“It is an act of civilization to support those who are attacked on their doorstep and suffer aggression, but there are those in Kotor who do not have the political courage to even symbolically stand on the side of the victim – the people of Ukraine,” the party said.
A boy from Pljevlja was unjustly accused
Although a boy from Pljevlja was accused in the media of pushing the girl into a water pit in that town, the video shows the opposite, that the little boy tried to save his friend in trouble. It is very important to look at this because of the avalanche of comments by which the boy was convicted and insulted on portals and social networks.
That’s it for today. See you tomorrow.
Kind regards,
Ljubomir Filipovic, CdM analyst
