Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović called on MPs to be responsible towards the national interests of Montenegro when re-deciding on the Agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on cooperation in the field of tourism and real estate development.
"I invite all MPs to read in detail the argumentation I provided on four pages, explaining why I returned the law to the Parliament. I want to send a clear message - it is better to turn back from the wrong path than to continue on the same path to the end," Milatović told the MINA business agency after the plenary session of the Three Seas Initiative Summit, which is being held in Warsaw.
He called on MPs to be reasonable and responsible, primarily towards the national interests of Montenegro.
As he said, Montenegro's full membership in the European Union (EU) is the number one priority of Montenegrin foreign policy.
Milatović emphasized that, therefore, the entire social energy and the entire reform focus must be directed precisely in that direction.
"Anything that diverts us from that path is not in line with our national interests, including possibly the Agreement with the UAE on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism and Real Estate Development, in this form," said Milatović.
He said that, among other reasons, he returned the law to the Parliament of Montenegro for a re-vote and added that he gave very clear reasons for such a decision.
Milatović recalled that he spoke today with the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stating that they had a very friendly and open conversation.
DON'T MISS IT
"I sent an important message to the UAE that Montenegro is a friendly country, that we are open to investments, that we view investments from the Emirates in a very important way, but that everything must be in accordance with the legal order of Montenegro," Milatović said.
He added that he thinks that message has been clearly received.
Milatović said that they decided to continue the conversation and that he invited the minister to visit Montenegro.
"We must, above all, be responsible for the state interests of Montenegro, for the legal order of Montenegro and for the Constitution of Montenegro," Milatović emphasized.
In explaining his decision, Milatović pointed to the high level of non-transparency in the adoption of the law, but also to the danger that Montenegro's European path would be jeopardized due to deviations from the accepted rules of the market economy.
When asked whether he believed that the agreement, in its current form, could jeopardize the country's European path, he said that he thought that was precisely the message from numerous high-ranking officials on the European side.
"You have heard the views of numerous parliamentarians in the European Parliament, who play an important role when it comes to our European path," Milatović said.
He emphasized that today's accession of Montenegro as an associate member of the Three Seas Initiative is a step forward and towards full membership of the country in the EU.
As Milatović emphasized, it is very important to be part of such initiatives.
"These are very important regional initiatives, which bring together countries from the wider region in cooperation related to infrastructure, digital economy, and energy. I think that today we have once again sent a very important message of commitment to what our European path is," said Milatović.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
