The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, signed a decree promulgating the Law on Ratifying the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism and Real Estate Development between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the United Arab Emirates, which was voted on again by the deputies at the session of the Parliament on June 3.
"The President regrets that, despite returning the Law with clear arguments, the members of the ruling majority in the Parliament of Montenegro put the interests of citizens in the background when they voted again on the agreement. The President considers it his duty to emphasize once again that the agreement in question, in the form in which it was adopted, is legally and politically harmful to the interests of the state," Milatović's office announced.
The agreement, it is added, is in direct contradiction with the Constitution of Montenegro and its legislation.
"It suspends key domestic regulations, including those on public procurement, state property and competition protection. These problems have been pointed out by numerous legal experts, representatives of the civil sector, international organizations, as well as the European Commission itself. This approach renders meaningless the legal framework that is supposed to guarantee the protection of public interest, transparency and equality of all investors in the market. This opens up space for non-transparent arrangements that may have long-term negative consequences for the state," the statement reads.
Milatović says that "those who voted for its adoption will bear responsibility for all the consequences of this agreement."
"The President of Montenegro, from the position he holds, will continue to consistently defend the constitutional order, the public interest and the right of citizens to decide on strategic issues that determine the future of Montenegro."
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