We expect the new government, whatever the majority will be, to renew its path towards European integration... More important than the duration of its mandate is the signal sent for a new step towards reforms and the implementation of some practical decisions.
This is what the outgoing ambassador of France in Montenegro said in an interview with "Vijesta". Christian Timonius.
Among other things, he said that France particularly respects the work of the Chief Special Prosecutor (GST). Vladimir Novović on the prosecution of suspects for the most serious crimes, but that now further steps are needed.
"Now we need a judiciary fully prepared and ready to process these cases. Something is apparently unlocked, but new steps are needed. For example, we expect the parliament to adopt a new law on corruption, which would enable clear tracking of the origin of politicians' assets," he pointed out.
At the end of 2019, a year before being appointed ambassador to Montenegro, you stated that the wealth in our country is concentrated in 10-12 families, and that the EU should therefore reconsider the criteria for enlargement. Who are these people, and do you think that the wealth is still in their hands, or that something has changed after the change of the DPS government?
The exact quote could be a matter of dispute - the idea was generally to express the spirit of the new EU integration methodology that France championed, the central importance of the rule of law and a warning of the growing gap between theory and reality, European commitment and practice on the ground. The European Commission has rightly pointed out the risk of some hybrid regimes or captive states in the Western Balkans. On the ground, this would translate, for example, into deprivation of justice in the Supreme Court or commercial justice, political control of the police, use of customs to accumulate wealth. The result would be a turn towards the quasi-exclusive profit of some individuals or companies, which would lead to the concentration of wealth and influence, which is directly against the philosophy of European construction, which strives for the equality of individuals and fair competition. This is the reason why we insist on chapters 23 and 24, the judiciary and the police, as the foundations of the negotiations for entering our Union.
These criteria meet the demands of the Montenegrin people, clearly expressed in the 2020 elections. It is clear that progress has been made, thanks in large part to the transparency made possible by political changes and the advocacy of some brave individuals. The support of partners was crucial to reveal some situations whose mention was previously marked as inappropriate or risky, such as the links between organized crime and the highest level of judicial power, as well as its connection with political power. A long procedure to establish the innocence of an investigative journalist Jova Martinović it showed the difficult path to transparency and the capacity of some circles to prevent changes. Failure to shed light on the murder of the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Dan" (Duško Jovanović) is another proof that much needs to be done. Another testimony can be the unsuccessful efforts of some non-governmental organizations like MANS to investigate the "Pandora Papers" or some other unanswered questions, such as those related to the controversial list of apartments. The law that would enable the investigation of the origin of the assets of persons involved in politics is still pending.
We will remember the efforts on the European side, at the highest level, to enable the functionality of your Constitutional Court. The endless and ultimately unsuccessful talks between political parties in parliament about completing a more independent judicial system show that there is an obvious need to rebuild trust. This cannot be achieved without a fair approach that would prevent accusations of a "witch hunt" and another risk of a captive state. To this end, not only European cooperation is necessary to meet the standards, but also the mobilization of the entire society - this is the kind of cultural revolution that will require the full support of society and the active cooperation of all political parties. We will first check their real commitment to changes and European values during pending judicial appointments, which require a qualified majority in parliament.
How do you view the reports, based on the transcripts from the Sky application, about the connections between the Montenegrin police, officials of the former government and the mafia, bearing in mind that the judicial authorities of France also delivered part of those correspondences to Montenegro?
France fully supports the actions initiated by the Montenegrin judiciary within the international legal system. We especially respect the courageous action taken by the Chief Special Prosecutor. The collected evidence is a new tool in the fight against organized crime, which has billions at its disposal, and thus the capacity to abuse various institutions. On the other hand, one should be careful when it comes to possible manipulations to discredit people and individuals. This is a very fragile balance that requires a spirit of responsibility from the various officials involved in order to maintain trust for cooperation, but also from the media themselves.
How do you evaluate the results of Montenegro in the fight against organized crime in the last three years, and do you think it is possible to put an end to the mafia, which, judging by Sky correspondence, has infiltrated every pore of the system? Can France somehow help Montenegro in this?
Some spectacular arrests can be attributed to the competent authorities, with a special mention of Chief Special Prosecutor Novović and his team. Now we need a judiciary fully prepared and ready to process these cases. Something is apparently unlocked, but new steps are needed. For example, we expect a new law on corruption to be adopted in the parliament, which would enable clear tracking of the origin of politicians' assets. The plea agreement should be used in a more restrictive way, as several reports have called for, because its systematic application leads to excessively reduced sentences for some criminal activities.
We helped the Montenegrin authorities not only through the court data you mentioned, but also through essential and mutually beneficial cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The collection and destruction of small arms and the fight against human trafficking are our latest forms of cooperation, and let's not forget the permanent fight against drug trafficking, which is a cancer for the whole society. We have launched a very promising collaboration on the confiscation of criminal assets, which is the best way to attack organized crime. Our fight against this powerful octopus is a joint one, because this octopus has no boundaries.
How do you explain the political instability in Montenegro that arose after the change of government?
This is just a process that has started, and you need to be patient. Political parties and citizens must adapt to the European path with less cronyism, more transparency and a sense of common goals. This means that a minimum platform should be established as soon as possible, at least in practice, in order to meet European standards in legislation and practice, in line with EU principles and values. There is room for normal democratic competition between conservative, social or liberal approaches and traditions, but this minimum framework should be clear and aligned with the strategic goals of regional stability and development.
What expectations do you have from the future Montenegrin government, and do you think that this time an executive will be established that will serve a full four-year mandate?
We expect the new government, whatever the majority will be, to renew its path towards European integration. This is no longer a matter of declarative or legal development, but of real impulse on the ground with efficient administration, coordination between ministries, practical decisions made in accordance with the European Green Agenda, and remaining faithful to full compliance with European foreign and security policy in a period of renewed international challenges with Russian aggression against Ukraine. More important than the duration of the mandate is the signal sent for a new step towards reforms and the implementation of some practical decisions.
Is the expectation of the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, that the country could enter the EU by 2027 or 2028, illusory or realistic?
This is part of the state's job - to provide society and the people with goals. For this goal, the mobilization and unification of society will play a key role. The people gave the president a high degree of legitimacy, so that he could fulfill this European task of Montenegrin society. This role is extremely important - within his constitutional powers and through continued dialogue with all relevant forces in the country and outside, he can be a compass and driving force in maintaining and, if possible, accelerating Montenegro's path to the EU, along with the inevitable ups and downs of everyday politics.
The goal is to speed up Montenegro's path to the EU
French President Emmanuel Macron invited Milatović to visit your country. Will Macron and France do something to push Montenegro towards the EU?
The two presidents have already met twice - on the occasion of international summits in Chisinau on the European Political Community and in Vilnius for NATO, where President Macron invited Milatović to Paris. That says a lot about our interest in developing relations with Montenegro, primarily with the aim of helping it and speeding up its path to the EU. As President Macron stated at the beginning of 2017, we consider the Western Balkans a natural part of our Union, and the President insisted on creating a French re-engagement strategy in the region, which is currently being implemented. We want to help Montenegro maintain its informal status as a leader, and we have shown our support in various ways.
We have started a very significant cooperation between our European affairs offices and we are ready to receive more interns in Paris for practical experience in integrations. During my tenure, the embassy was granted more resources and capacity - for example with two experts provided by France, one on European integration and the other on environmental issues. Montenegro is involved in various bilateral programs for the region, with a loan of 50 million to the Investment and Development Fund (IRF) from the French Development Agency (AFD). During the French Presidency of the EU last year, we launched the Regional Cyber Security Training Center (WB3C) with Slovenia, and we decided to locate it in Montenegro, with the prospect of your country being the headquarters of an international organization for the first time.
Our relations are developing significantly in the field of defense and security, where we share the same goal of European defense within NATO. We also have the goal of developing Montenegrin airports with Aeroports de Paris (ADP), respecting all European standards and fully including the country on the European transport map. Moreover, our goals are based on shared values of peace and prosperity for the region and our shared commitment to multilateral values that we defend together in international forums. We are convinced that Montenegro is not only a leader, but also an example for the region, which France will fully support if things go in the right direction here.
Consider the reasons behind some of the ambassadors' statements
Do you think that the statements of certain ambassadors of Western countries about which Montenegrin political party is not their partner represent, as part of the public believes, a violation of good diplomatic practices and interference in the internal affairs of the state?
It should be known that such statements reflect the positions of their countries, and that they are given according to instructions. The public should not so much consider the fact that the ambassadors made these statements as the reasons that led to the statements.
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