DPS: Mandić is harming Montenegro's relations with BiH

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) announced that the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić, is harming Montenegro's relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that he has given himself the right "to reshape the institutional reality of the neighboring country."

"The meeting of the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić, with BiH citizen Milorad Dodik in Banja Luka is yet another confirmation of Mandić's ill-intentioned attitude towards state interests and the international reputation of Montenegro. Instead of representing the interests of all citizens of Montenegro, Mandić openly positions himself as a promoter of great-state concepts and an informal envoy of the idea of ​​the 'Serbian world', thereby directly undermining the constitutional order and international position of the state he formally represents," the DPS announced.

They pointed out that Mandić's statements on the so-called "Serbian issue" are nothing more than "an attempt to drown Montenegro in nationalist projects that have already cost the region dearly."

"Additionally worrying is the fact that Mandić has given himself the right to reshape the institutional reality of the neighboring state, calling Dodik a title that does not belong to him. Such behavior represents a serious diplomatic precedent and harms the regional relations that Montenegro needs to build with the official institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Instead of informal 'excursions' and a parallel foreign policy, a state-responsible President of the Parliament would be expected to act in accordance with the Constitution and the country's clearly defined foreign policy priorities - primarily full membership in the European Union, but for Mandić, the European path is only a temporary cover for the 'Serbian world'."

The DPS also said that Prime Minister Milojko Spajić "has the political backbone", and called on him to take a clear stance on the actions of the President of the Parliament "and prevent further erosion of Montenegro's international credibility, but the difference between them is no longer recognized".

Mandić announced yesterday on the X network that he met with "friend Dodik and discussed all important matters concerning the Serbian people"...

He also stated in the announcement that he "informed President Dodik about Montenegro's wishes regarding our chairmanship of the Berlin Process."

Dodik is the president of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) and the former president of the Bosnian entity Republika Srpska.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has approved Dodik to commute his one-year prison sentence to a fine, in accordance with the law that prescribes this. The Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina stipulates the possibility of commuting a prison sentence of up to one year to a fine, so that one day in prison costs 100 KM (50 euros). Dodik was sentenced to one year in prison and a six-year ban on holding any public office for disrespecting the decisions of the High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"President Dodik and I have concluded that it is precisely through regular communication that we prove once again that borders are not an obstacle to strengthening national, cultural, spiritual, and political ties. As the closest to each other, we continue with strong cooperation, which is a guarantee of peace and stability," Mandić also wrote on the X network.