While the case of planned terrorist attacks still has a large number of unknowns, an additional question arises - why Montenegro, as a candidate country for NATO membership, did not address its partners in the North Atlantic Alliance, given the seriousness of the situation.
Putting into context the Euro-Atlantic position of Montenegro, i.e. the fact that the country has the status of a candidate with the right to participate in all meetings of the Alliance, the former head of the Montenegrin parliament and president of the Social Democratic Party Ranko Krivokapić brought up the question - why the official Podgorica did not inform NATO about the case of planned terrorist attacks partners.
"Don't run away from the help of our NATO partners to get to the full truth. Because if the country that joins NATO does not clear up whether or not there is a coup d'état, will there be three more groups that can invade tomorrow and from where will they invade, is there one superpower behind it, are we going to be in a permanent psychological conflict with some superpower that wants to take over power here - it's a situation that destroys everything," Krivokapić said in a guest appearance on "Vijesti" television.
Ahead of the meeting of NATO defense ministers, US Ambassador to the Alliance Douglas Luth announced that he does not have an independent position regarding the incident on the election day in Montenegro, as well as regarding the allegations that Russia tried to interfere in the internal politics of Montenegro.
Ambassador Lut announced that NATO is interested in hearing what information Montenegro has, both about the incident on election day and about Russia's interference in internal politics.
The same meeting was attended by the Minister of Defense of Montenegro, Milica Pejanović Đurišić, who told reporters that the ministry was not informed about the incident.
"The Army of Montenegro, that is, you are probably asking me about the Ministry of Defense, did not have any information on that topic," said Pejanović Đurišić.
In an interview with "Vijesti" television, Krivokapić stressed the need for NATO to be involved in the entire case of attempted terrorist attacks on the institutions of the system, which the public was informed about during the election day.
"Why are they running away from providing detailed information to our NATO partners and why are they running away from inviting them to help them, to look at the evidence. They have more knowledge about cryptophones and other things than we do. Why are we running away from the partnership of those for whom we entered NATO precisely to would be safer and that things like this wouldn't happen to us. Why don't we involve them immediately and why didn't the Minister of Defense know, who has authority and reputation and could get that support quickly," said Krivokapić.
Long-time diplomat Branko Lukovac believes that the competent state authorities will inform the NATO alliance about all the elements of the attempted terrorist attack. According to his assessment, NATO will be informed when the key facts from the investigation about which forces or power centers are behind a potential coup d'état are reached.
According to Lukovac, this communication is also important for Montenegro and NATO.
"I am sure that it will be done very soon, that this action will result in further cooperation between NATO and Montenegro. When some key elements are revealed for informing NATO, including the questions: whether the foreign factor represents the involvement of some autonomous organizations, patriotic and anti-NATO forces or are some forces involved that are related to the state structures of Russia? Then there will be more elements for cooperation between NATO and Montenegro. I would say that it is very important that it be communicated with NATO because that is one of the reasons why Montenegro Gora opted for membership in the strongest military-security alliance," says Lukovac.
It was not possible to get an answer to the question why Montenegro did not establish communication with NATO on the topic of planned terrorist attacks with a political background from the line ministries and government bodies dealing with NATO integration.
Although more than 20 days have passed since the announcement by the Special Prosecutor's Office that 10 persons, citizens of Serbia, were arrested the night before the elections, on suspicion of having committed criminal acts - creation of a criminal organization and terrorism - the highest bodies dealing with state security - Council for Defense and Security and Council for National Security.
When asked what the procedure dictates in situations when the state is facing serious security challenges, Velizar Kaluđerović, a former member of the Parliamentary Security Committee, says:
"If the security threats were so serious, the most normal thing was to hold a session of the National Security Council, which coordinates all security services. It would be logical if the ministers of the interior and defense were fully informed, if an urgent, closed session was held of the Parliamentary Committee for Security and Defense in order for the complete security system to be up and running".
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