The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Srđan Darmanović, is ready to come to the control hearing, which was requested by the representatives of the Democratic Front (DF) due to the decision of three ambassadors to pay a fine to the suspended official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mirna Nikčević. Ambassadors Miodrag Vlahović, Nebojša Kaluđerović and Željko Perović paid a fine of 600 euros imposed by the misdemeanor court on Mirna Nikčević for hate speech.
"In similar situations, it was never a problem for me to appear before the parliamentary committee. Recently, the topic was our European integration. Now, if it is decided, this can be a topic. This is not disputed at all. In this matter, the government must cooperate with the parliament", said Darmanović to "Vijesta".
DF representatives Branka Bošnjak and Jovan Vučurović submitted an initiative for hearing Darmanović before the Committee for International Relations and Emigrants yesterday. When asked by "Vijesti" whether he will schedule a session, the president of the Committee Andrija Nikolić said that he is on an official visit to Slovakia. According to the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, the President of the Committee is obliged to schedule a session if requested by the President of the Parliament or a third of the members of the Committee. In order to consider the Front MP's proposal, it needs to be supported by the third opposition member of the Committee for International Relations and Emigrants, Miodrag Lekić (Demos). Lekić told "Vijesta" that he did not sign the initiative, but that he would support the discussion at the Committee.
"Every social anomaly should be discussed democratically in the Assembly. The aforementioned event, which is undoubtedly unprecedented and unknown in the comparative practice of diplomacy, including the international one, should be publicly discussed at the Board. After all, the bearers of this topic obviously wanted publicity. The position of the ruling coalition remains unknown, which, one has the impression, have not yet realized that the Assembly is not a place for the balance of power, but a place for democracy, the public and the control function," said Lekić.
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Nikčević was suspended and then fined because on her Facebook profile she insulted the believers who gathered in front of the Cathedral of Christ's Resurrection in Podgorica on Trinity Day. After Nikčević announced that the three ambassadors had paid her fine, Montenegrin diplomats, without consulting the minister, published a statement in which they stated that those who "deliberately, violently, orchestrated and organized attacks on Montenegro" should not be punished.
MPs of the DF demanded a hearing of Darmanović because of the ambassador's statement and, as stated, open support for inciting national, religious and racial intolerance. Vučurović said yesterday that the government's extremist policy continues "with the call for lynching announced by the adviser and supported by the ambassadors".
"In any other country, fanatics like that would have been dismissed as a matter of urgency, but here there is no rule of law, and such hatred has taken root and has become part of the official policy of the DPS and satellites," said Vučurović.
Commenting on the ambassador's statement, Prime Minister Duško Marković said on Monday that it was an inappropriate reaction and pointed out that institutions must not be a platform for any personal views and expressions. The move of the three ambassadors was not approved by the ombudsman, who assessed that by paying the fine they "compromised the purpose of the sanction imposed by the court".
The Liberal Party (LP) and the Montenegrin Movement yesterday condemned "the media frenzy that culminated in attacks on Montenegrin ambassadors:
"They experienced a public lynching, which Nikčević has been experiencing for months, because of private actions, guaranteed by the Constitution to everyone, including diplomats," the LP announced.
Ambassadors invited to report to the MFA
The three ambassadors received an official invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP) for an interview yesterday. As stated by the MFA, after talking with them, they will decide on further steps, in accordance with the usual practice and the Law on Foreign Affairs. Article 113 of the Law on Foreign Affairs stipulates that the minister can fine members of the diplomatic staff with 20 to 30 salary in case of serious disciplinary violations.
"A more serious breach of official duty is making statements and announcements without the approval of the Minister of Foreign Affairs or a person authorized by him", it is stated in paragraph 5 of Article 112 of the Law on Foreign Affairs.
Darmanović's department announced yesterday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not, in any way, at any time, aware of the positions of the three ambassadors expressed in their joint public announcement.
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