The Bosniak Party (BS) will demand a review of the participation of certain political entities in the parliamentary majority, if they abandon the political agreement that European integration is a priority for Montenegrin society, said BS leader Ervin Ibrahimović.
He said that as a citizen, but also as the leader of the Bosniak People's Party, which dominantly politically represents the Bosniak people, the most important thing for him is that the European path has been mapped out and that all those who deviate from the agreement in any way, and who are part of the parliamentary majority, cannot divert them from that path.
"If they try something like that, they will have a serious political opponent in us and we will certainly seek a review of the participation of these political entities in this ruling majority in that potential situation," Ibrahimović said in an interview with the MINA agency.
When asked how he sees resolving the parliamentary blockade crisis, Ibrahimović, who is also the head of Montenegrin diplomacy, said that the key is dialogue.
He believes that Montenegro must emerge from a state of institutional blockade and dysfunction, and that strong and powerful institutions are therefore necessary.
"We can only have strong institutions if we are truly committed to adopting democratic principles and respecting the Constitution. That is why I believe that dialogue is the key and that, after the messages of encouragement we recently received from European Commissioner Marta Kos, we must move even more dedicatedly towards our European goal," Ibrahimović said.
He said that the European path implies dialogue on the most important issues and that he is convinced that Montenegro has the capacity for dialogue and reaching agreements on important issues, in the interest of all, the state and the European perspective that the majority of citizens support.
Ibrahinović believes that the current generation of politicians has a unique chance to lead Montenegro on the path to EU membership.
"What does it mean to join the European family of nations that inherits universal human values, and we as a society must not and will not miss such an opportunity, and certainly every political entity has the right to decide whether they will be part of the winning team that will make this historic step forward for Montenegro and its citizens," Ibrahimović emphasized.
He said that in the six months since he has been at the helm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), more than excellent results have been achieved in the field of foreign policy, which is a credit to the entire team he collaborates with.
"That is why I will not allow anyone to jeopardize our country's European path, at least while I am the head of diplomacy," said Ibrahinović.
He recalled that Montenegro closed three negotiation chapters at the Intergovernmental Conference in December and, for the first time in seven years, embarked on the process of closing chapters, which is part of the joint agenda to have all of them closed by the end of next year.
"In addition, for Chapter 31, which relates to foreign, security and defense policy, all formal conditions for closure have been met. In this way, we have sent a message that the integration process is once again in focus, both for Montenegro and the EU, and I am pleased with the strong support coming from official Brussels. Montenegro has no right to waste this support from Brussels," Ibrahimović believes.
He said that one of the biggest challenges for him personally, but also for the MFA, was improving bilateral relations with neighboring Croatia, which were damaged due to the adoption of the resolution on Jasenovac.
"There was no need for its adoption given the fact that no one in Montenegro, whether it be the professional, political, scientific or lay public, has disputed, nor does anyone today, the unimaginable suffering in the Jasenovac area," said Ibrahimović.
He added that there is no such denial in Croatia either and that the country fosters a culture of remembrance in relation to this terrible crime.
Ibrahimović said that although the BS warned that the adoption of this resolution could lead to a cooling of relations with official Zagreb, which means a certain form of blockade towards the EU, there was no understanding or listening to these appeals and the damage was done.
He said that together with the team at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he has continuously worked on improving bilateral relations, through numerous meetings with the Croatian Ambassador to Montenegro Veselko Grubišić and his Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlić Radman.
"I would like to remind you that Croatia has strongly supported us on our path towards NATO membership and I am certain that they will be our tailwind on the path towards EU membership, and I am pleased that my colleague Grlić Radman confirmed this during our recent meeting in Montenegro," Ibrahimović said.
He assessed that cooperation between the two countries is heading in the right direction, despite certain open issues, which will certainly be resolved through open and friendly dialogue.
Ibrahimović recalled that, after five years, political bilateral consultations between the two ministries at the level of state secretaries on open issues will begin on January 27th.
He said that Montenegro will soon receive 12 new ambassadors and one consul general.
Ibrahimović said that for months he had been in dialogue with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and President Jakov Milatović on the topic of filling vacant positions in diplomatic and consular missions (DKP).
"I have clearly conveyed to the Prime Minister and the President of the country that there is no successful story of European integration if we cannot appoint ambassadors, especially in those countries that are our strong international partners," Ibrahimović said.
He added that he is pleased that they have managed to reach a compromise for around 13 candidates for heads of diplomatic missions, which will result in the completion of the diplomatic network around the world.
"These are the concrete effects of the MVP in a short time and I must emphasize that these results have been recognized and welcomed by our international partners in Brussels, Berlin, London and Washington," said Ibrahimović.
He said that the main motive for BS's entry into the 44th Government was, among other things, strengthening Montenegro's European path, economic development, increasing living standards, as well as an investment focus on the north.
"At a meeting with Prime Minister Spajić, during negotiations on joining the Government, we conveyed that we strongly support the principle of the rule of law, as well as that we want to work together to improve minority rights," Ibrahimović said.
He pointed out that for BS, the political ideal is to fight for a multiethnic, multiconfessional and secular society.
"We have been operating politically like this for almost 19 years. Everyone is clear with us. BS is firmly adhering to the agreement and the signed agreement. We expect that from everyone with whom we have an agreement on anything, including the Government," said Ibrahimović.
He emphasized that this Government, more than any before, must show concern for the north of Montenegro.
"BS sincerely advocates that the north of our country embarks on the path of development. But that is not enough. We cannot do much ourselves if the state does not recognize the need for the most beautiful part of Montenegro to develop economically, touristically and commercially," said Ibrahinmović.
He added that something like this requires serious capital investments in the north and that it is time to move from words to deeds, because the citizens in that part of the country, who are true patriots, deserve it.
"This is particularly important today, because EU membership is for many an opportunity that should not be missed, but it is also a major demographic challenge, especially in the context of Montenegro, especially for the north, and what is important for me as the leader of the Bosniak People's Party is also for the Bosniak people who predominantly live in the north and who are already exposed to demographic challenges, as evidenced by the census," Ibrahimović concluded.
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