Reception on the occasion of May 21st, the Independence Day of Montenegro, hosted by the Prime Minister the day before yesterday Milojko Spajic, took place without representatives of the parties of the former Democratic Front (DF) that are part of the government, and the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), continuing the practice of their absence from this official event. The ceremony was also absent from representatives of the opposition, who had attended some of these gatherings in previous years.
The event, held at the University Sports and Cultural Center, was attended by the highest state officials, representatives of the legislative, executive and judicial branches, the diplomatic corps, the media, the non-governmental sector, and guests from public and cultural life.
From the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) Andrije Mandić and the Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knežević, the main constituents of the former DF, did not answer yesterday when asked by "Vijesti" why they did not come to the Independence Day reception.
According to available photos from the Government's website, representatives of those two parties were not present at the celebration of that date last year, nor in 2023 and 2022.
From the ranks of these two parties, the Deputy Prime Ministers are Budimir Aleksic (NSD) i Milun Zogović (DNP), and ministers Maja Vukićević (DNP), Slaven Radunović (NSD) i Simonida Kordić (NSD).
The Government did not respond yesterday to who was invited to the reception on the occasion of Independence Day, why ministers from the NSD and DNP did not attend, and whether the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral received an invitation to the reception. Joannikius and representatives of other religious communities, as well as whether they received an explanation as to why they did not come.
Head of the DPS Parliamentary Club Andrija Nikolić He told "Vijesti" that the party's MPs had received an invitation to attend the reception on the occasion of Independence Day, but that there was no need to act "protocol with forced celebrants who, even on the 19th anniversary of the restoration of Montenegrin independence, did not recognize the results of the 2006 referendum, but rather, from positions of power, are dismantling the independence of Montenegro."
"The majority of the current government does not hide that it has only temporarily come to terms with the fact that Montenegro is independent, while their permanent denial of the regularity of the referendum is part of a tactic in the fight for the final annulment of Montenegrin independence," he said.
Nikolić stated that the first and most important principle that needs to be respected "in order to toast Montenegro together on Independence Day" is for government actors to accept the results of the "democratically implemented referendum on independence in 2006."
Representatives of that party attended the 2021 reception, when the Prime Minister was Zdravko Krivokapic, and the following year when the Government was led by Dritan Abazovic. At that time, the president of the state was the former leader, and today he is the honorary president of DPS. Milo Djukanovic, and that party gave support to Abazović to form the executive government in early 2022, but denied it a few months later due to the signing of the Basic Agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The opposition Social Democrats (SD) and the Civic Movement URA did not respond yesterday to why their representatives did not attend the Independence Day ceremony. The Metropolitanate of the Montenegrin and Littoral Orthodox Church also did not respond to why Metropolitan Joanikije was not at the reception.
According to the available photo archive on the government website, MCR representatives were not present at the reception organized on the same occasion in previous years. Representatives of the Islamic and Jewish communities have attended the receptions in previous years.
Prime Minister Spajić said at the ceremony that Montenegro will mark two decades of independence next year, adding that it is the obligation of this generation to "lead the country to where it has always belonged - to the European Union (EU) for this great anniversary."
"The next two years will be the best test of overall social maturation and readiness to jointly realize this generational dream that is now within our reach. The intention is for Montenegro to fulfill all the requirements from the negotiation process by the end of next year and to become a full member of the EU by 2028," Spajić said.
He also stated that during the 19 years of independence, Montenegro has been positioned internationally as a member of NATO and a candidate for EU membership, but that, on the other hand, internal social divisions have been witnessed that have been "fueled for the sake of party and personal interests." Spajić added that the anniversary of independence should be more than a celebration.
"Let it be a holiday of knowledge and excellence. A reminder that we have an opportunity that must not be missed, a country that we must love with deeds, and a future that should not be waited for as a miracle, but created as a deed. In that name, in the name of glorious history and an even brighter perspective, let us have a happy Independence Day. May Montenegro be eternal," the Head of Government said.
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