A decision on whether to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP) to extend the mandate of the chargé d'affaires in Belgrade Predrag Mitrović it should be known today because his mandate expires on September 10, "Vijesti" has learned unofficially.
Although during the meeting between the presidents of Montenegro and Serbia Jakov Milatović i Aleksandar Vučić at the beginning of July, a quick exchange of ambassadors between the two countries was announced, but this did not happen until yesterday.
The reason for this in Montenegro is that the new government is waiting to be formed, as well as the competent sub-committee that gives an opinion on the proposal for diplomats.
In Serbia, the former ambassador to Cyprus was considered a potential candidate Marko Blagojevic, but according to informal information, Aleksandar Vučić's decision has been postponed and some other names are in the pipeline.
In such a situation, extending the mandate of Predrag Mitrović is the only realistic solution. Yesterday, "Vijesti" did not receive any answers from the MFA as to whether this is planned and when.
According to the Law on Foreign Affairs, the chargé d'affaires is a diplomatic representative who, due to the absence or incapacity of the head of the diplomatic mission, temporarily performs the duties of the head of the diplomatic mission.
Mitrović was the president and founder of the Union of Employers of Montenegro (UPCG). He gained experience in diplomacy as the Montenegrin ambassador to North Macedonia, where he was appointed in December 2014 and remained in that position for a full term, until December 2018.
According to informal information, he had the support of the current government Dritan Abazović to be the ambassador of Montenegro in Serbia, but it remains to be seen what will be the attitude of the future if it is formed.
The Constitution provides that the President appoints and recalls ambassadors on the proposal of the Government, and with the opinion of the competent parliamentary committee - for international relations and emigrants.
The new convocation of the Assembly was constituted at the end of July, and the committees have not yet been formed.
At the same time, Serbia has not had an ambassador in Podgorica for more than two years, after the then ambassador Vladimir Bozovic declared undesirable due to politically controversial statements, which were assessed as undiplomatic.
The last ambassador of Montenegro to Serbia was Tarzan Milosevic, which was withdrawn by the Government's decision after the change of government in 2020.
Not long after, Montenegro put Vladimir Božović on the list of undesirables because the National Security Agency assessed, and the Police Directorate decided, that he was a danger to the country. After a year of being banned from entering Montenegro, he recently received a court verdict, after which the police's decision was changed.
The Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not answer yesterday whether they received a request for an ambassador agreement from Belgrade.
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