Montenegro, as the country that was most successful in negotiations with the European Union (EU) and in which there was a high degree of inter-religious and inter-national harmony, must remain a factor of stability in the region, especially in times of pronounced security risks.
This was announced during the meeting of the leader of the Social Democrats (SD) Damir Šehović with the ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in Montenegro, Branimir Jukić.
Šehović, as announced by the SD, said that it is therefore necessary for the new government to be clearly European and Euro-Atlantic committed, and to nurture the best possible relations with all its neighbors.
Looking back on the current political situation, Šehović assessed that too much time was being wasted on the formation of a minority government, and that the whole process used to seem quite frivolous.
"We expected that everything would go much easier and faster, aware of the fact that there is a clearly determined European and Euro-Atlantic majority in the parliament," said Šehović.
That is why, as he stated, Mandate Dritan Abazović has two options.
"The first is to propose a civil, European and pro-NATO government as soon as possible, for which it is quite certain that it has more than enough support from members of the Parliament," Šehović said.
According to him, everyone who wants to join such a majority is welcome on that platform, but not at the cost of playing with the state interests of Montenegro and rotten compromises with the civil, European and NATO orientation of the new Government.
"Another possibility is that, if he does not provide that support, he will return the mandate to the President of the country, Milo Đukanović, in the following days," Šehović added.
He said that SD will certainly not make harmful compromises for the country regarding the fundamental values of society, nor regarding the political and programmatic priorities of a potential minority government.
As he stated, agreeing to such a thing would backfire on the state like a boomerang.
"That's why it is unacceptable for us that anti-NATO parties get the opportunity to play a dominant role in the parliament and the government, and by their actions or inactions they can get into a situation where they can further compromise Montenegro with our Euro-Atlantic partners," concluded Šehović.
Jukić, as announced, emphasized the continuity of harmonious and good-neighborly relations between the two countries, and emphasized that Montenegro, as a NATO member and the country that has progressed the farthest in EU integration, has always sent a message of stability and a functional multi-ethnic and civil society.
"We in BIH firmly want Montenegro to remain an example of coexistence, interreligious and interethnic harmony. We also want to have a reliable partner and sincere friend in Montenegro, as before," said Jukić.
He said that, as the ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he is fully aware of how many Western Balkan countries have their own internal and external challenges at this time.
"And that's why I hope that you will successfully overcome all the issues that are currently on the agenda, for the benefit of your country first of all, and then for the stability of the entire region," Jukić added.
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