Minister of Foreign Affairs Đorđe Radulović said that since the introduction of multi-party system, Montenegro had all the elements of democracy, but not everyone had the same chances in the elections.
In Colors of the Morning on TV Vijesti, he explained his tweet in which he announced that he was proud to be part of the first democratic government, even though he was in the transitional government for ten years.
"I am aware that my announcement stirred up the public. But if we take the period from 1945 to 1990, which was a one-party system, but after the introduction of multi-party systems, we had the monopoly of one party. In this sense, the DPS had an inappropriate advantage during the elections. The Black "Since 1990, all the elements of democracy have been worse, but not everyone had equal chances in the elections, according to the admission of some former members of the DPS. I'm not saying that the previous governments were completely undemocratic," said Radulović.
He said that at this moment it is not possible to withdraw the decision to expel Serbian Ambassador Vladimir Božović, in accordance with the convention.
He added that if Serbia wanted to appoint Božovć again, it would have to receive an invitation for agreement from the President of Montenegro, and the Government has no possibility to decide on that issue.
Radulović also said that he does not know of a case where a country has withdrawn its decision to expel an ambassador.
He said that expulsion is the last measure taken and does not contribute to good neighborly relations.
"If I had been a minister then, I would have invited him for a conversation," said Radulović.
He said that we should not look at the year 1918 and that should be left to historians.
"Everyone should be calm, Montenegro is an independent country, but it is the country of everyone who lives in it, and everyone has to experience this country as their own. If some percentage of citizens do not feel Montenegro as their own, some percentage of Serbs, that is a real example that a dialogue should be started," Radulović said.
He added that what is in the competence of the MFA will do everything to extradite Svetozar Marović, but the MFA can do very little, that is all in the competence of the ministries of justice. He announced that the MFA will withdraw more ambassadors, already at one of the next Government sessions, so that career diplomats can take their places.
"Ambassadors who are career diplomats and who have undergone training of diplomatic personnel, we will try to keep them, we will withdraw the others," said Radulović.
He did not want to say which ambassadors he would withdraw.
He added that if he says that there are about 20 non-career diplomats, he cannot say that they will all be sent home.
One of the first moves will be the intensification of the EU negotiation process, and that is one of the top priorities.
"We had numerous conversations with EU representatives in the previous days. There is absolutely a willingness for EU officials to support the continued integration of Montenegro. They already see us as part of them, it's just up to us to do our homework properly and implement reforms."
He believes that we can be part of the EU by 2025 or 2026, which is in accordance with the statement of Commissioner Oliver Varhelji that we will become a member for the mandate of this Commission.
Public pressure on ministers is completely expected, it is completely understandable that there is fear among citizens who are the people who will lead us now, after the change of government after 30 years.
Each of the ministers made a certain sacrifice and most of them returned to Montenegro to help.
"Tamara Srzentić came from California to help reform the state," said Radulović.
He added that if he did not have the support of his family, he would not have accepted the position because families make the biggest sacrifice.
Regarding foreign policy and relations with Russia, he said that the Government will continue the consistent policy of the EU. "Russia's sanctions hurt the sentiment and soul of people in Montenegro who are oriented in that sense more than they harm Russia.
We want good relations with Russia, but not at the expense of our European priorities. We will work on improving relations with Russia, but until the moment when it does not disrupt our European aspirations," said Radulović.
According to him, the reality that everyone should accept is that Montenegro is a member of NATO, that is, "we are NATO".
The first moves of the MFA, in addition to personnel changes and professionalization and intensification of the EU integration process, will be to assume all obligations from NATO membership, promote good neighborly relations in the true sense and intensify economic diplomacy, in order to overcome the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.
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