"The competence of the president is essential in appointing and recalling ambassadors"

Slowly but surely, some representatives of the current government are inaugurating their own, but completely wrong and ill-intentioned understanding that the President's consistent respect for the Constitution and the law is perceived as an obstruction or that the extent and nature of his constitutional prerogatives are unknowingly called into question, the cabinet announced President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović.

In the press release, they state that Article 95 point 6 of the Constitution stipulates that: "The President of Montenegro appoints and dismisses ambassadors and heads of other diplomatic missions of Montenegro abroad, on the proposal of the Government and with the opinion of the Assembly committee responsible for international relations".

"It is quite clear that the President's authority is not limited to the simplified signing of a decree, but he issues a decree that is an unquestionable statement of his decision to appoint or recall an ambassador based on a proposal established by the Government. Therefore, the Government submits a proposal to the President, and he accepts or rejects it - passes or does not pass a decree. In other words, the original constitutional authority of the President is to pass a decree on the appointment and recall of ambassadors, and it is neither formal nor protocol, but of an essential and meritorious character," the announcement reads.

The president also signs the letters of credence to the ambassadors, recommending them to the heads of host countries.

Đukanović's cabinet explains that this competence of the president is further provided by the Law on Foreign Affairs, which, in Article 7 paragraph 1, prescribes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP) informs the President about significant issues in the field of foreign policy and international relations, as well as good practice for appointment and recall ambassador of Montenegro, which was reflected through the holding of regular foreign policy consultations - the President of Montenegro, the President of the Assembly, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"The above-mentioned Law further confirms the importance of this issue with the provisions of Article 4 paragraph 1 stipulating that foreign affairs include activities related to the analytical assessment, determination, management and implementation of the foreign policy of Montenegro, which are carried out within the prescribed competences by the Parliament of Montenegro, the President of Montenegro , the Government of Montenegro and the MFA. In accordance with Article 13 paragraph 1 point 17 of the Law on Foreign Affairs, the MFA proposes to the Government the appointment and dismissal of heads of diplomatic and consular missions, while the Government, based on its constitutional competence, in accordance with Article 100 point 9, proposes ambassadors and heads of other diplomatic missions represents Montenegro abroad, primarily with the aim of protecting the interests and reputation of Montenegro on the international level," the announcement states.

In Đukanović's cabinet, they believe that nurturing the reputation of Montenegro and the dignity of the diplomatic profession is a common interest, and as they state, they believe that the government, which emphasizes that it is in favor of the reconciliation of Montenegro and functional cohabitation in the spirit of cooperation, will be committed to an open dialogue with the president of the country.

"Whose indisputable competence is to decide on the persons who will be delegated on behalf of Montenegro to his colleague - the head of state, where they will honorably perform their duties, as worthy representatives of their country", it concludes.