Žugić: The Chamber of Commerce is not a place for political fights

The newly elected president of the Chamber of Commerce, Vojin Žugić, submitted a statement to "Vijesta" yesterday in which he explains that he is resigning because he does not accept that this institution becomes a place of political struggle and conflict of different interests.

He was supposed to take office on September 1, but then the acting president will be vice president Nina Drakić.

We are publishing the text of Vojin Žugić's letter in its entirety.

"After all the events and activities that have been conducted in recent months in connection with the election of the president of the Chamber of Commerce, and after my legal and legitimate election as president by the Assembly of the Chamber of Commerce, I want to inform you that after reviewing the current situation, and wishing to preserve it and homogenizes this association, which has been going on for almost 100 years, made the decision to resign from the position of president of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro.

The Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro is an association of Montenegrin businessmen, formed with a clear desire and goal to protect their interests, works to create and strengthen the business environment, develop the economic potential of Montenegro and improve regional and international cooperation. In order to jointly "trace" development directions and create a systemic, institutional and business environment, a necessary prerequisite is the establishment of partnership cooperation with the Government, its bodies and institutions. Unfortunately, the election of the president of the Chamber of Commerce and its existing status was used as a field for daily political struggles and the creation of spheres of interest and influence, which certainly cannot benefit either businessmen or the association, and is not in the interest of either the executive power holders or the opposition structures. I am sure that the future of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as the future of Montenegro, cannot be built on divisions, animosities, and the desire to declare one idea or position dominant, while those who think differently or critically question what has been declared "superior" are considered adversary and opportunist.

In my long life and business career, I tried to affirm and develop universal values, and to run my business respecting ethical principles and market laws. The business success made by my company "Stadion" is the result of many years of hard and painstaking work by me, my family and the employees of this company. This is evidenced not only by the financial indicators of our business, but also by the numerous recognitions and awards we have received, and the most satisfied customers and suppliers in the country and abroad. I am very disappointed with the effort to declare my business success and engagement both in the economy and in the Chamber of Commerce to be the result of the illegal influence of political groups or spheres of interest, and that in this way a shadow is cast on my desire and efforts to organize and lead the Chamber of Commerce in a professional and efficient manner and enable the realization of its mission and goals. The purpose of this address is not to defend myself against unfounded accusations and hypotheses that, without any basis or evidence, call into question my suitability to be at the head of such an association. I consider the qualifications about my belonging to the "hard and soft currents" of various political parties to be politicking, with the clear aim of creating media spin and exerting inappropriate influence on something that, by the nature of things, should be kept out of the reach of daily politics.

All that I have achieved and created is the result of my work and dedication, and I can proudly point out that the achieved success has nothing to do with belonging to any political structure. My candidacy for the president of the Chamber of Commerce arose as a result of my desire to contribute to the development of this association, advance and affirm the interests of businessmen and thereby contribute to the social and economic development of the country. My long-term involvement in the Chamber's bodies and the proposals that came from the Chamber's bodies were the main and only reason for me to run for this leadership position, with the aim of working on its strengthening and improvement. The support I received from the members of the Assembly of the Chamber is proof of their trust in the proposed work program, but also a great obligation to preserve and improve the work of the Chamber in conditions that are very specific and complex. I see the election for the president of the Chamber as a normal activity that must be an expression of the free will of the members of the Chamber, and not as a place for political struggle and conflict of different interests that are fundamentally unrelated to the aim and purpose of the existence of the Chamber.

Bearing in mind that the current political and media speculations have led to a division in the ranks of the members of the Chamber, and that my desire is to preserve unity and to strengthen it institutionally and connect even more strongly with the economy and chamber associations in the region and beyond, I informed the Assembly Chamber that under these conditions I cannot and do not want to take over the position of president of the Chamber. I would like to thank the members of the Chamber for the trust they showed in me by electing me to this position and I ask for your understanding of my move, considering that it is for the purpose of protecting the interests of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro".