Spajić: Opposition representatives will be welcomed with coffee and cake

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said that opposition representatives would be welcomed with coffee and cake, commenting on allegations that they did not attend the meeting to which they were invited.

He made this announcement while answering journalists' questions at today's ceremonial start of preparatory works for the construction of a boulevard for the future settlement on Velje Brdo.

"After this rally, I am going to a meeting with the opposition. I am looking forward to such a meeting," Spajić said on that occasion.

Asked how he would comment on the fact that the opposition announced that it would not come after all, and whether this was disrupting the dialogue on European obligations, Spajić replied, "we'll see, I'll wait for them."

"Coffee and cake will be waiting for them," said Spajić.

Opposition representatives refused to come to a meeting with the Prime Minister, which was supposed to discuss the dynamics of adopting laws from the European agenda by July this year.

The Prime Minister discussed this with representatives of the ruling majority yesterday, and these consultations were scheduled ahead of the visit of EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.

The head of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) parliamentary group, Andrija Nikolić, announced yesterday that Spajić is creating the illusion of normal political conditions in Montenegro in anticipation of Kos' arrival.

Among other things, he said that Spajić's attitude towards the issue of Montenegro's European integration, "the most important strategic priority for the development of our state and our society, is proven to be insincere, superficial and essentially amateurish."

"Therefore, we leave you to discuss this with your political comrades, proven Europeans from the former DF and the Democrats. After all, your Minister of European Affairs recently clearly stated that the participation of the strongest opposition party in Montenegro in the integration process is not even necessary for its success," Nikolić said.

Yesterday, the leader and MP of the Civic Movement URA, Dritan Abazović, also denied attending the session.

"I don't want to spoil what the president said, that they had a meeting in the government, but he incorrectly said that opposition representatives would participate in a meeting in the government. Good luck to you, and don't worry about us," he replied yesterday to Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić, who said that "the opposition will be at the meeting tomorrow."

The President of the Social Democrats and one of the leaders of the European Union, Damir Šehović, announced last night, while appearing on Television E, that the European Union will not participate in the "simulation of dialogue" with the Government, assessing Prime Minister Milojko Spajić's invitation as an attempt to create the illusion of political normality in anticipation of the arrival of Marta Kos in Montenegro, while, as he stated, the country is facing the weakest economic results in the last ten years and the increasingly pronounced political influence of Andrija Mandić.

"It would not occur to us to participate in such a dialogue. The Prime Minister's invitation is hypocritical and timed to coincide with Marta Kos's visit, in order to create the impression of a functional political system," said Šehović.

He added that "there will be no more simulating dialogue," and that Spajić should resolve key political issues within the parliamentary majority, which "is otherwise getting thinner."

Leader and MP of the Democratic People's Party, Milan Knežević, which recently left the ruling majority, said that he is ready to respond to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić's invitation to a meeting if the topics will be the Serbian language, flag, and citizenship.

"If those topics are not discussed, I will leave it to Spajić to negotiate with Alabaru and the South Koreans about European integration, because that is compatible with each other and I will certainly not participate in that meeting," said Knežević, appearing on A Plus television.

Independent MPs Miodrag Laković and Nikola Janović also did not come to the meeting.

"The real topic for the broadest dialogue and consensus were the laws on internal affairs and the National Security Agency, which further polarized the political scene, and society in general. Since this was not the case then, and the consequences are clearly visible today, there is no need to create the illusion of political harmony now, in anticipation of the visit of the esteemed Commissioner for Enlargement of the European Union, Marta Kos," Laković said at IX.

He added that he is certain that he and Janović "will continue to vote for everything that is important for the Montenegrin integration process in the future," and that "in that sense, he does not need coffee with the Prime Minister as an incentive."

Janović, also at Iks, said that "the European path is not a topic for political marketing."

"Montenegro's European path does not need additional political confirmation at meetings without an agenda and content. As an independent MP, I will support everything that is good for Montenegro, but the European path is not a topic for political marketing," he posted on that social network.