Professional biography Snežana Ionica, her many years of experience in state administration and work on tasks of direct importance for the exercise of the rights of citizens and the diaspora - were the key reasons for her appointment as Consul General of Montenegro in New York, claims the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), saying that it "respects the interest of some emigrant associations and members of the diaspora in the USA", who were outraged by the decision.
Several portals that follow the Montenegrin diaspora in the United States last week reported criticism from certain representatives of expatriate associations from that country about the appointment of Jonica as Consul General in New York, focusing on her political past and the positions of the Socialist People's Party (SNP), "a party close to the Slobodan Milosevic”, of which she was an MP and official.
Some expatriates also pointed out that Jonica has no previous diplomatic experience in this type of position, that her previous political career does not guarantee that she will successfully perform her function in one of the most important centers of the Montenegrin diaspora, and that "the position of consul general should not be a party award, but a position that brings together and represents all citizens of Montenegro."
The Albanian-American Association of Staten Island demanded an immediate revocation of the decision to appoint her.
“... This appointment represents a serious and unacceptable provocation for the Albanian and Bosniak communities in Montenegro,” the president of the association said on December 18. Nasser Nika, in a post on the Albanian-American portal Illyria.com.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told "Vijesti" that the Law on Foreign Affairs (Article 63) provides for the possibility of appointing a person who is not a career diplomat to the position of consul general.
"When making a decision, the Government considers the professional qualifications, overall work experience of the candidate, as well as the needs of the service in the specific diplomatic and consular mission," the department headed by the minister said. Ervin Ibrahimovic (Bosniak Party).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that Jonica is a law graduate with significant experience in management and expert positions in the public sector, including engagements in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Port of Kotor, as well as within the projects of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with a particular focus on legal issues, human rights and European integration.
Jonica was appointed Consul General in New York on November 6. According to "Vijesti", after taking office, she attended and spoke at two large gatherings in New York last weekend, organized by an association of Montenegrin emigrants. These were gatherings on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Gusinje Foundation and a Christmas celebration organized by one of the associations of Montenegrin emigrants of Albanian origin, which, according to "Vijesti" sources, were attended by around 300 people each.
The Gusinje Foundation also published a photo on its Facebook page showing Jonica in the company of the organization's long-time president. Refik Radončić and member of the board of directors Nasera TheVišević.
Jonica, as her biography states, was an SNP MP in the Parliament for two terms (from April 2009 to November 2016). During that period, she was the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee on Political System, Judiciary and Administration, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Security and Defense, a member of the Committee on Human Rights and Gender Equality, and a member of the National Security Council.
During her parliamentary work, she was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and participated in the work of several of its bodies. She was the Chair of the PACE Subcommittee on Disability and Inclusion, a member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, the Subcommittee on Human Rights, the Subcommittee on the Rule of Law, the Subcommittee on the Implementation of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights...
After years of disagreements with the party leadership, Jonica left the SNP in 2018, and in 2019 founded the Socialists of Montenegro party.
She was the Director of the Administrative Sector at the Port of Kotor from November 2017 to January 2023, and was appointed Acting Director of the Directorate for Normative, Legal and Personnel Affairs at the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) at the end of 2024.
MFA: All diplomats perform their duties professionally
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that, upon assuming office, all heads of diplomatic and consular missions act exclusively as representatives of the state of Montenegro and perform their responsibilities professionally, impartially and in the interests of all citizens, regardless of their political or other personal affiliations.
The Ministry's goal, they said, is for diplomatic and consular missions to be an open and inclusive space of cooperation, trust, and dialogue with the diaspora.
"In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains open to continuous communication with emigrant associations and representatives of the diaspora in the USA, in order to work together to strengthen institutional ties, preserve identity and promote the interests of Montenegro abroad. Special attention will be paid to the inclusion of the diaspora in the planning and implementation of activities of common importance," they said.
Nika: We will retain the right to peaceful protests in front of the consulate
Naser Nika stated that his association is deeply concerned about the actions of the Government, which, he says, has appointed as state representative a person "with an openly pro-Serbian orientation, known for her connections and support for the policies of the Slobodan Milošević regime - a regime that left behind suffering, ethnic cleansing, persecution and indelible pain for the peoples of the Balkans."
"When will the Government of Montenegro stop these continuous provocations towards Albanians and Bosniaks? Why are we constantly asked to remind ourselves of the wounds and suffering from the past?" Nika asked.
He said that, if Jonica's appointment is not withdrawn, their community will retain the right to democratic and peaceful protests in front of the consulate in New York, as well as to "raise their voices to the highest institutions," including the White House.
"We also call on Albanian ministers and MPs to raise their voices in parliament and relevant institutions against this provocative appointment. We cannot and will not accept being provoked - especially not in America," Nika underlined.
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