Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimovic yesterday, he sent a letter to the members of the executive power in which, as he said, he draws their attention to the necessity of highlighting state symbols during official and working visits, and to the observance of general protocol procedures on those occasions.
He stated in the document, which "Vijesti" had access to, that he was addressing his colleagues "due to recent events related to the failure to display state symbols... during official and working visits by members of the Government."
Deputy Prime Minister Budimir Aleksic he was on an official visit to Belgrade on Monday and Tuesday, and his cabinet is public about the meeting of his boss with the culture minister there Nikola Selaković informed with a press release and an accompanying photo of the two, which does not have the flag of Montenegro. Although part of the public reacted violently on this occasion, the national flag was displayed, but Aleksić's office did not provide the media with photos showing it until later.
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Ibrahimović said that he wanted to believe that it was not an intentional act, but a technical error.
"However, as you surely know, even minor omissions can cause damage - both to bilateral relations and to the reputation of the country we all represent," he said.
He said that he was reminding his colleagues of the necessity of the presence and inclusion of representatives of the diplomatic and consular missions of Montenegro during official working visits.
"With their active participation, we will reduce the possibility of similar mistakes happening, and also contribute to the realization of planned and agreed activities", he added.
After the photos from the recent meeting between Ibrahimović and the President of Turkey were published yesterday on the Iks network Recep Tayyip Erdogan in that country, on which the flag of Montenegro is not visible, the representative of the ruling Movement Europe now Vasilije Carapić he wrote on that network that "any unprincipledness is bothersome" and that "every member of the Government should ensure that the flag of the country on whose behalf he is acting is represented".
One expert on the rules of the state protocol of Montenegro told "Vijesti" that these rules are based on diplomatic customs and that he assumes they are the same in Serbia and Turkey, while another stated that the protocols of Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia are more or less the same, " because they were taught by the same people". Those interlocutors say that high-level guests (from ministers and above) are welcomed with the characteristics of the countries they come from.
Another interlocutor explains that it is not an obligation except when it comes to official visits of the same level (president - president, prime minister - prime minister, etc.), and that when visits of a lower level are organized - the flag can be displayed, but it does not have to.
"However, that way shows respect for the guest and the country he comes from," he added.
Ibrahimović: The government has an opportunity to restore the image of the EU integration leader to the state
In a letter to his colleagues, Ibrahimović stated that he thinks that the Government "has an opportunity to restore the image of a leader of European integration and the next member of the EU to our country".
"We can do this only by respecting the Constitution, laws and established general rules of diplomatic practice, especially when organizing meetings with representatives of other countries and respecting neighbors and strengthening regional relations," he said.
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