Đukanović: The protests are trying to be presented as civil, it is clear that political structures are behind them

The Montenegrin government is ready to discuss with those who formally lead the protests about all issues that represent their interest, said the President of the country, Milo Đukanović.

In Berlin, during a lecture at the German Society for Foreign Policy, he also said that the protests in Montenegro are trying to be presented as civil, although, as he states, it is clear that political structures are behind them.

Protests in Montenegro, Serbia and Albania are, as Đukanović says, an obvious indicator of the progress of the Western Balkans.

"Today, protests are seen as a legitimate way of expressing political interests. We repeat that it would be natural to replace protests led by the opposition with a parliamentary dialogue," Đukanović said, as reported by the RTCG portal.

He emphasized that the protests are trying to be presented as civil, although, as he says, it is clear that political structures are behind them.

"We are ready to discuss all the issues that represent their interest with those who are formally leading the protests, with that civil structure. There are no doubts or potentially conflicting situations regarding the issue between the government and the protest participants," said Đukanović.

The President of Montenegro also says that he recognizes the common thread in all the protests happening in the region.

"It is an idea to change the government without the electoral process".

Today, in the Western Balkans, we have governments with, as Đukanović says, a clear vision, trying to lead societies along the path of modern EU civilization.

He believes that such phenomena point to the conclusion that we are still far from having a homogenized public in the Balkans.

"There is still a confrontation between those who advocate a new policy, a policy of adopting European standards, which also means the election of the government in democratic elections, and those who think that the government can be changed on the street through a revolution," said Đukanović.

The dialogue is trying to get to the point that, as he says, the rules we have established must be respected, and not to go back to the 90s.

"It is clear that these are not simple processes. We must show that we have the strength to resist those who want to conserve the processes and keep Montenegro and the Western Balkans outside the EU. It is not an easy job, but we have the will and strength to do it ", stated Đukanović. He also says that Montenegro is not at a crossroads. "Montenegro has been on a one-way street leading to the EU for a very long time," Đukanović concluded.