PES: Vukićević is trying to profit politically by citing "lack of information"

Transport Minister Maja Vukićević is trying to profit politically by citing "lack of information", even though she had all the materials at her disposal and the opportunity to express her opinion - which she did at one session by voting YES, the Europe Now Movement (PES) announced.

"It was at the Government session held on March 21 that Minister Vukićević and her party colleague, Deputy Prime Minister Milun Zogović, voted in favor of the proposal for the basis for negotiations on the Agreement on Economic Cooperation with the UAE. At the electronic session three days later, when the proposal for the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism and Real Estate Development was being decided, the Minister did not even vote," the PES statement, published on the social network Facebook, states.

The party, headed by the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, added that if someone disagrees with strategic development projects, they are expected to articulate this in the Government, and not to post festum on social networks to express populist messages for the sake of daily political points.

"Absence of a vote is not an act of responsibility, but rather an avoidance of responsibility. The Government of Montenegro does not make decisions behind closed doors - all members of the Cabinet, including ministers from the DNP (Democratic People's Party), were informed of all materials in a timely and transparent manner, which is confirmed by their participation in the vote. After all, if the agreements are not good - why did Zogović vote FOR twice?", said the PES.

They said that they remain committed to the development of Montenegro, bringing in credible investors, improving living standards and creating new jobs.

"If someone in power has a different agenda, we urge them to clearly communicate it – and reconsider their participation in the Government. Montenegro no longer has time for cowardice, obstruction and politicking," said PES.

Vukićević (DNP) announced yesterday that she has certain reservations about the agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"At the electronic session of the Government of Montenegro, I did not support the Proposal of the Basis for Negotiations and Conclusion of the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism and Real Estate Development between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the United Arab Emirates. The reason for this is that I have certain reservations about the proposed agreement. I am not opposed to investments - on the contrary, I believe that Montenegro needs them. However, Velika Plaza is a natural resource that we need to preserve, and I do not think it is good to cede its entire territory to investors without prior clear guarantees and analyses," Vukićević wrote on the social network Instagram.

The governments of Montenegro and the United Arab Emirates signed agreements on economic cooperation and joint investment on Friday, at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.