The President of the Parliament of Montenegro and the leader of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) Andrija Mandić announced today that the party he leads and the Democratic People's Party (DNP) led by Milan Knežević are coalition partners, but that they are different political organizations, although they "stand in solidarity" regarding the situation in Zeta.
"If we were the same, we would all be in the same party, we would not be coalition partners. Very close, but we are coalition partners. Much of what I have done, I and the New Serbian Democracy, we have done as a Serbian party, representing the Serbian people in Montenegro, as well as my colleagues from the DNP, they have done much that was important for their individual political performance. Everyone has their own responsibility, I stand in solidarity, but we also have a political organization that makes decisions, and a political organization that is somewhat older than Mr. Knežević's organization," Mandić said in the Parliament during a debate with the head of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) parliamentary group and the president of that party, Danijela Živković.
Živković previously told Mandić that the situation in Zeta was on the verge of escalation and that bloody clashes and executions were being announced in Botun.
"That was said by one of the leaders of this parliamentary majority, Milan Knežević. You are obliged to state your position on this issue here and you are responsible. You are the leader of this parliamentary majority, and yesterday the Prime Minister clearly told you both on the issue of the Defense and Security Council and on the issue of your relationship within this parliamentary majority," Živković told Mandić.
He added that this type of calculation or hiding your head in the sand is a thing of the past.
"Political responsibility must be taken here. You are also the most responsible here, because you form the axis of the parliamentary majority. You said that Milan Knežević is your partner, you swallowed tear gas together with him, went to trials, and now the question arises of what your attitude is towards this, because your partner said that tomorrow he will set out with excavators, bulldozers and trucks to demolish what is an obstacle in the process of building the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Botun. And that dead heads will fall, obviously. We had the opportunity to hear such statements in 2019 in anticipation of the vote on the Law on Freedom of Religion in the Parliament, precisely from you, that you are soldiers of Christ who are ready to lay down your heads for the Church. Today, when it comes to your coalition partner, who announces the fall of those heads and bloody clashes in Botun, you are silent and pretend as if nothing extraordinary is happening in Montenegrin society, laws are being voted on, with a blue flag, while we see hundreds of citizens there and a threat to stability in Montenegro," said Živkoviić.
He said that roads and roundabouts were blocked, and that citizens could not travel to the airport.
"Today, you also bear political and other responsibility in Montenegro for what may happen. Because it was announced, you are the government. You must also respond to the citizens of Montenegro for this. That is your duty and your obligation. As an opposition member, you have repeatedly announced some kind of atrocity in Montenegro. Unearthing weapons, miracles, etc. Perhaps with a lesser degree of responsibility because you were the opposition, you are not the government, today you are the government. Today you are the Speaker of the Parliament, and Milan Knežević is one of the leaders of this parliamentary majority. Imagine when a message comes from the leader of the parliamentary majority, within that parliamentary majority, that there will be a bloody showdown and that something extraordinary will happen tomorrow if the police do not withdraw from that location. Don't just bury your head in the sand and pretend that nothing is happening. The situation is extraordinary and seriously threatens to destabilize the situation in Montenegro. That requires a response, especially from you," said Živković.
Mandić said that he does not know all the details and what is being said in Zeta at this moment.
"I am very happy that we defended the holy sites and that not a single drop of blood was shed over it, but rather that the people of Montenegro decided in a democratic manner to remove the government that wanted to take the holy sites away from the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC). I think that we should resolve all our problems within Montenegro peacefully, through dialogue," said Mandić.
He added that Montenegro needs peace and stability.
"Yesterday, I addressed the Prime Minister and asked him to seek a solution because this is the competence of the Government. And I said that some red lines, which were very far apart, are narrowing and that it would not be good for us to enter turbulent situations from which Montenegro sometimes knew how to get out in the right way, as was the case in 2019 through a democratic response, and sometimes it knew how to get out of those difficult situations very quarrelsome, that did not serve the honor of that generation, and it did not serve the honor of anyone when those limits are crossed. I am firmly convinced that a solution needs to be found here, I am working as hard as I can and as far as my competences allow. You know, although you emphasize the fact that I am the leader of the parliamentary majority, this parliamentary majority is made up of a large number of parties, and the largest party is the party of the one who has the most power in this country, which is the Prime Minister, Mr. Spajić. I am firmly convinced that we will find a solution, I want a solution," said Mandić.
He also said that friendship is what he experienced with Knežević, the leader of the Movement for Change (PzP) Nebojša Medojević, and their colleagues from the former Democratic Front (DF).
"The most important memories and the biggest challenges in our lives were during those difficult times. These are not those difficult times, like those were," said Mandić.
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