The Supreme Command session, which was scheduled to continue for Tuesday (December 30) by the head of state Jakov Milatovic, will most likely not be held because, according to "Vijesti", the Prime Minister will not attend. Milojko Spajic (Europe Now Movement).
In order for a session of the Defense and Security Council to be held, all three members of that body must be present - Milatović (chairman), the head of parliament Andrija Mandic (New Serbian Democracy) and Spajić. On the same day that the session is scheduled to continue, Spajić is scheduled to answer questions from MPs in parliament.
When asked whether Milatović consulted Mandić and Spajić when scheduling the session's continuation date, the president did not respond, but his cabinet unofficially stated that it is the practice for the head of state, as the chairman, to initiate sessions and propose a date. The interlocutor explained that, in this case, Milatović scheduled the continuation for Tuesday and proposed a start at 10 a.m., and that the practice is that, if the initially proposed date does not suit the other members of the Council, it is subsequently agreed upon through cabinet communication, as in all previous cases.
Milatović scheduled the session to continue two days after it was adjourned without an official explanation. However, as "Vijesti" reported, the background to the events that were supposed to be discussed at the session is quite clear - a new conflict between the president and the defense minister. Dragan Krapović (Democrats) on issues in the Army of Montenegro (AVCG).
WHY DID IT "BOIL"?
Ahead of the adjourned session, the Ministry of Defense removed the Commander of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Montenegro Darko Vuković from his post and initiated disciplinary proceedings against him. This was preceded by Vuković's letter to the head of state, in which he complained that Krapović was mobbing him, that is, that his rank was not respected when entering the ministry building and when arranging seating arrangements at meetings.
Milatović's cabinet assessed that Vuković's suspension is a humiliation of the Army, while the Chief of the General Staff of the Army of Montenegro Miodrag Vuksanović stated that Vuković violated the principle of subordination by addressing Milatović and that therefore his removal from office was lawful.
Milatović did not invite Krapović to continue the session, although the minister attended it until it was interrupted. The ministers of defense, interior and foreign affairs, the Chief of the General Staff, the director of the police, etc. may participate in the work of the Council, upon invitation and without the right to decide.
When asked why Krapović did not receive an invitation, the head of state's office responded that the Minister of Defense, according to the Constitution, is not a member of the Defense and Security Council.
When asked whether Milatović consulted Mandić and Spajić before making that decision, the editorial office was unofficially told by the president's office that the three members of the Council, after the session was adjourned, agreed that only they would attend its continuation.
However, a source for "Vijesti" from the government claims that it was Mandić's proposal, and that Spajić said he would consider it.
A similar situation occurred at the end of last year, on the eve of the continuation of the then Supreme Command session. Milatović was then, due to a conflict with Krapović over the position of the former Chief of the General Staff Zoran Lazarevic, said that the minister, by his actions, "disqualified himself" from his subsequent invitations to attend the session.
Spajić's cabinet then informed the Council that the Prime Minister was inviting Krapović to the session, which Milatović allegedly refused, and then the cabinet of the first man in the Government said in a statement that in that case the session "would not make sense." It was ultimately not held, because Spajić did not show up.
CONSEQUENCES FOR THE VETERAN COUNTRY
The Ministry of Defense told "Vijesti" that the possible consequences of not holding the session would be the failure to adopt a decision on the participation of the Armed Forces of Montenegro units in international exercises and training next year, which, they stated, would prevent the maintenance and further development of the Army's combat readiness.
"... As well as the expenditure of funds planned for that purpose, which results in a loss of reputation and credibility within NATO, for which Montenegro may suffer unforeseeable consequences," the newspaper wrote in its response.
They added that the consequence would be the non-adoption of 53 proposed decisions on the appointment, 34 on the dismissal and 43 on the regular promotion of officers of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, and that this directly affects the implementation of personnel policy in the Army and the Ministry, as well as undermines the trust of the institution and prevents the exercise of constitutional and legal rights.
"This will result in legal disputes that will result in financial losses and dissatisfaction among members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, which will directly affect the combat readiness and morale of the Army," claim the department headed by Krapović.
One of the participants in the session, which was interrupted on Wednesday, claims that Milatović said that the session would not continue until the Ministry of Defense reinstates Vuković, who is Milatović's advisor. Dejan Vuksic denied in a statement to "Vijesti".
The other two participants in the session, whom the editorial team contacted, neither confirmed nor denied that Milatović announced that the session would not continue until Vuković was reinstated.
When asked whether it was true that Milatović said that the session of that body would not continue until Vuković returned to duty at the Ministry, and if so - what Krapović's response was, the Ministry of Defense responded that "the session was interrupted and postponed by the president of the state."
In a letter to the president, which Milatović wanted to be discussed at the session, Vuković stated that the Minister of Defense would not allow him to enter the Ministry of Defense building in Podgorica through the main entrance, where some officers with a lower rank than him also enter, but through the official entrance on the other side, where all visitors are "searched" by military police.
The newspaper's sources claim that Chief of General Staff Vuksanović asked Krapović to reconsider his decision on the regime for entering the building, but that the minister refused.
According to the newspaper's interlocutor who attended the Supreme Command session, Krapović asked Vuković if he had ever approached him about a problem he was having with the ministry, to which he received a negative answer. Milatović allegedly stated that the Minister of Defense was an "administrative person", and Krapović replied that he was a politician who answered to the Prime Minister and the Parliament that elected him.
One of the participants in the session told the newspaper that no decision was made on the adoption of its agenda. Milatović allegedly rejected Prime Minister Spajić's proposal to discuss the Vuković case and the controversial appointment of the president. Milan Bigović for the acting head of the military intelligence service is discussed under the item "miscellaneous", after which a controversy about Vuković followed.
Mandić did not, the source claims, comment on the proposed agenda "in any particular way."
WHO IS TO BLAME?
Milatović's cabinet called the decision to suspend Vuković illegal, saying that it was "a continuation of Krapović's retaliation and arrogant behavior."
On Wednesday, "Vijesti" asked the Ministry of Defense whether Krapović believes that his conflict with Milatović is undermining the integrity of the Army, and what consequences it will have for it, to which Vuksanović responded, saying that Vuković was removed from duty solely at his suggestion and in accordance with the law. He claims that this decision was not made on anyone's orders, under anyone's pressure, or as a result of any personal or institutional disagreements.
He stated in the statement that Vuković's actions recently represented a flagrant violation of the principles of subordination and single-seniority in command and the duty to execute orders, which is the reason for initiating the procedure to determine disciplinary responsibility.
According to him, Vuković carried out a series of actions aimed at directly attempting to undermine the authority of the Chief of General Staff.
On the other hand, Milatović's cabinet told the newspaper on Wednesday that decision-makers in the defense department had humiliated the Army.
"... Because the Commander of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, Vuković, was ambushed, and he was unlawfully removed from duty and stopped on the street by the Military Police and forced to leave his official vehicle," said Dejan Vukšić.
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