Montenegro should decide on the requests of Sweden and Finland to join NATO on the basis of national interests and after broad consultations, taking into account international rules and the attitudes of allies.
This is what the president of the parliamentary committee for international relations and emigrants told "Vijesti". Miodrag Lekić (Demos), commenting on the fact that last Sunday the Government called for a quick parliamentary ratification of the membership of Sweden and Finland, even though the two countries officially applied to join the alliance only yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Rasko Konjević (Social Democratic Party - SDP), wrote on Twitter on Sunday that he believes "that Montenegro will follow Germany's determination to accept and quickly ratify the membership of Sweden and Finland", adding that "the Government and the Assembly should contribute to rapid membership following the determination of key partners" .
Lekić states that Montenegro does not have to be the first to formally support the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO, adding that before making a decision, one should see the argumentation of the requests of those countries and analyze the possible specific modalities they are looking for in the new security status.
"In the conversation I had the day before yesterday with the Finnish ambassador in Montenegro (Kim Lahdevirt), I was able to make sure that Finland is very thoroughly preparing the arguments for joining NATO, while respecting the democratic mechanisms in the country. It should also be expected that Montenegrin diplomacy on this occasion will carry out active diplomatic activity in which it will consult allied countries, in order to look at all aspects of this sensitive issue - from procedural to essential, which are relevant to the decision", he points out.
Sweden and Finland applied to join the Alliance because of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine. In order to enter that alliance, it is necessary for the applications to be approved by each of the 30 NATO members.
However, the rapid accession, which is desired by both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the two countries, is questionable after the message of the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan that his country will not support the candidacies because Sweden and Finland "do not have a clear, open attitude towards terrorist organizations".
Lekić assesses that in looking at this topic, one should take into account the legitimate interests of those who seek admission to NATO, while on the other hand, he says, it is necessary to seriously analyze the issue of broader security stability - primarily Europe, of which we are a part.
"Especially in the light of EU policy which has just proclaimed its goals under the title - 'European strategic autonomy'. In short, a serious decision should be made in a serious way. We owe this to the citizens of this country and to our partners in the EU and NATO. I expect that the Montenegrin institutions will be open to the admission of Sweden and Finland to the NATO alliance by observing the legal procedures," he said.
Commenting on Konjević's call for Germany to follow in this case, which said that everything is ready for quick ratification, Lekić emphasizes that the position of that country should certainly be respected for several reasons, but that he is not sure that any country should be chosen as a model when making a decision.
"Germany, as a serious country, is yet to make a decision, I believe a positive one, which still has to wait. But what will we do if someone on the same topic chooses a position based on the statement of the French president Emanuel Macron, which starts from the fact that we are not at war with Russia and that Russia should not be humiliated in the overall solution of the war conflict, which all caused a negative and stormy reaction from the official Kiev? Or does someone follow the position of Erdogan and Turkey, also an important NATO member country, which is currently against the admission of Sweden and Finland? I mean, we need to look at everything in a transparent way, and after broad consultations, make a decision based on our interests, taking into account international rules and the attitude of our allies," underlines Lekić.
The interlocutor notes that foreign policy, especially in this turbulent phase of international relations, requires the maturity of Montenegro.
"After all, according to the degree of maturity and principles, we will be appreciated internationally. Certainly much more than in the variant of a voluntary inferior position or the possible subordination of Montenegro to possible non-transparent lines and services on the international level", concludes Lekić.
To be a subject and not an object of international relations
Lekić appeals that Montenegro, as a sovereign state, should not allow itself to be an object that is managed on the international level, but to be, to the extent possible, a subject that influences the formation of policies in the organizations and alliances in which it participates.
"Our national maturity will also be reflected in our ability to reach a consensus, especially in parliament, on issues of foreign policy and defense. That is what democratic and stable countries do. It is in this field, i.e. achieving a common national consensus on foreign policy, that I will try to make a contribution in the capacity of deputy and president of the Committee for International Relations and Immigration", he said.
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