Vuksanović: Defense Council sessions are not being held even though it is a real need, Spajić cannot find a date

Sessions of the Defense and Security Council are not being held, although this is a real need, said the advisor to the President of Montenegro for domestic policy and economic development, Nebojša Vuksanović.

The Ministry of Defense announced this morning that the Army of Montenegro (AVCG) has canceled its participation in the international aviation exercise "INOCHIOS 26" in Greece, due to the failure of the Defense and Security Council to make a decision on the participation of Army units in international exercises and training for this year.

Vuksanović, in the Link show on Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG), said that he regrets that sessions of the Defense and Security Council are not being held, even though this is a real need.

He stated that in order to hold the session, it is necessary for the President of the Republic of Croatia, Jakov Milatović, to respond to the invitation of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Andrija Mandić and Milojko Spajić.

"As far as I know, the Speaker of the Parliament has responded, but the Prime Minister cannot find an adequate date," said Vuksanović, according to the RTCG portal.

Milatović recently submitted a proposal to the Constitutional Court for the assessment of the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Law on the Armed Forces of Montenegro, stating that the disputed norms derogate from the constitutional competences of the Defense and Security Council and the President of the State.

Vuksanović said that previous bad practices were not corrected in the previous period either.

He stated that the competencies of the Defense and Security Council and the Ministry of Defense overlap, adding that anomalies must be resolved to avoid any confusion.

"They specifically relate to the abuse of the military in certain situations, and primarily to appointments, or cadres within the military system. According to the Constitution, this is an obligation of the Defense and Security Council and the Government cannot be exempted, but on the other hand, there is a clear inadequate use of the acting institution and we have a situation where the Council is being bypassed by the Ministry of Defense," said Vuksanović.

Speaking about the arrest of former Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vesna Bratić, he said that the Constitution gives the president the right to grant pardons and that the procedure itself is defined by the Pardon Law, according to which the president has the ability to pardon someone who is being prosecuted at any stage of the proceedings.

Vuksanović said that the pardon process is preceded by the opinion of the Ministry of Justice.

"The President called on the Ministry of Justice to comment on this part, that is, to collect all the data, form a case and make a recommendation regarding the specific case. The Ministry of Justice has not yet completed that part of the work, it is possible that it will take time, and Bratić was given house arrest by modification," Vuksanović stated.

He assessed that in practice there is disproportionality when it comes to court verdicts.

"She was ordered to be detained due to the risk of flight, and the verdict was not for what she is charged with. On the other hand, former Supreme Court President Vesna Medenica was sentenced to ten years, and she is at large," said Vuksanović.

He said that these are things that a large part of the public notices and that a part of the public has justifiably raised its voice in this case.

"The president also insisted on eliminating selectivity," Vuksanović said.