Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović said that he had not received any official document regarding the status of Chief of the General Staff of the Army of Montenegro (VCG) Zoran Lazarević.
Milatović, answering questions from journalists at the Music Center, reminded that the Army is commanded by the Council for Defense and Security, and that it is chaired by the Head of State.
"Everything is clearly defined by the constitution. Neither the Council nor I have received official information, nor a document in relation to what I could read from the media. When I receive it, I will make a clear decision," said Milatović.
He confirmed that the question of dismissing Lazarevic was raised at the previous session of the Council.
"But in the discussion, the Presidents of the Government and the Assembly praised the man, so I asked why he was dismissed. When I get a good argument, I will make a decision in relation to that," said Milatović.
He assessed that frequent changes in the Army send a bad message.
Milatović said that Defense Minister Dragan Krapović announced that he would cancel the previous minister's decision and de facto retire Lazarević.
"Thus, Lazarević would cease to be an active officer, and Krapović would take over the role of the Council," added Milatović.
Asked if he had information that Krapović had informed Lazarevic that his employment in the Army was ending today, Milatović said that he had no such information.
"I can have knowledge in relation to a formal document that comes to the office of the President of the State or to the Council," stated Milatović.
As he said, it is not about any officer, but the Chief of the General Staff of the VCG.
Milatović, commenting on the election of the General Director of Radio Television of Montenegro Boris Raonic, asked if there is anyone in Montenegro who thinks that the election was not rigged.
"They changed the law a month ago, so they told us that five years of work experience is better than ten." At the last moment, the parliamentary majority "sold" the amendments to that law as part of the IBAR law, which was not true," Milatović pointed out.
He also asked if there is anyone in Montenegro who believes that the election of the RTCG director "was not rigged".
Thus, as he said, the Public Service is additionally placed under the classic political control of the current Government and the parliamentary majority.
"And now I ask you, is this normal? Did the citizens of Montenegro fight for it? Were the changes after August 30 supposed to return the Public Service back into the hands of party officials? I don't think so. If I were to observe all that on the side, taking pictures with ambassadors, traveling around the world, then I would, after all, ignore everything that is happening in the country right now. It's the citizens who ask me to get involved every day, and they will judge all of us, in this and in every other election. Democracy is a process that is learned and defended every day. Someone has to defend democracy from many people in the parliamentary majority who, unfortunately, do not even know 'D' from democracy you have already mentioned the election of the general director of the Public Service, do you think that it is sustainable in this way, considering that eight candidates will appeal to international addresses? Is there anyone in Montenegro who thinks so? that the election of the RTCG director was not rigged? They changed the law a month ago. They told us that five years of work experience is better than ten. Do you understand how theses are being twisted right now? The amendments to that law at the last moment were sold to the public by the parliamentary majority as part of the IBAR law, which is not true," said Milatović.
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