Several hundred Democratic Front (DF) supporters gathered in Cetinje on Friday to protest against the session of the Montenegrin Parliament at which the Draft Law on Ratification of the North Atlantic Treaty was being discussed. The treaty provides the conditions for Montenegro’s accession to NATO.

Except for a few skirmishes, there were no major incidents at the protest.

The biggest incident occurred while the protesters were dispersing when a group of four young men threw stones at them. There was a brief fight and police intervened after it.

The DF supporters set a NATO flag on fire chanting “murderers” and “treason”

The rally ended after one of the DF leaders Andrija Mandic addressed the crowd.

The president of New Serb Democracy (NOVA), Andrija Mandic, said that the annexation of Montenegro was being signed in the Parliament.

“But we have gathered to send a message that we do not accept this treason. They betrayed everything that could be betrayed and today we say that we will annul this decision as soon as the conditions are created,” said Mandic.

He said that there were no Serbs in Montenegro who would vote for NATO.

Mandic also called on the rest of the opposition to join DF in further struggle against the regime.

President of the Movement for Changes (PzP) Nebojsa Medojevic said that this regime had occupied Montenegro

He accused the police of failing to allow “buses of free people to come to Cetinje”.

“But this treason will pass. The voice of the people is the voice of God, and therefore we advocate organising referendum. Woe to a president who is afraid of his people,” said Medojevic.

DF MP and the president of Democratic People’s Party (DNP), Milan Knezevic, said they would not recognise the capitulation being signed today.

“Their hands are bloody and this is the greatest act of treason. There is no greater traitor than Milo Djukanovic. But here’s the majority and the free Montenegro, which will annul the decisions of the rump parliament. After this, we will continue fierce fighting and protests and we invite the rest of the opposition to join us,” said Knezevic.

DF Presidency member Branko Radulovic said that traitors to the nation were in the Parliament of Montenegro.

“That’s why we say that we will abolish the shameful decision to be taken today, because Montenegro has never been for sale, and will never be a NATO base,” Radulovic said.

DF MP Predrag Bulatovic said that today’s Parliament’s decision was non-binding for them.

“This decision will be adopted by 42 illegitimately elected MPs and it will be annulled by 41 DF MPs, when we are elected at legitimate elections. And the state cup case has not been framed-up only by Djukanovic, but also by power centres who want Montenegro in NATO,” Bulatovic said, urging the opposition to protest until new elections are called.