Krapović: The way the Committee session was scheduled violated the practice of checking the minister's availability

The manner in which the session of the Defense and Security Committee was scheduled for May 15th violated the practice of checking the minister's availability in communication between the committee and the ministry and agreeing on a date that allows for the responsible presence of all participants, said the relevant minister, Dragan Krapović.

The Committee meeting scheduled for May 15th is scheduled to discuss the Information on the situation in the Army of Montenegro.

Krapović said that on May 7, after a public debate with Social Democrat MP Nikola Zirojević, a document was delivered to his office, as well as to the office of the Chief of General Staff, Brigadier General Miodrag Vuksanović, scheduling the Committee session for May 15, with a specified agenda.

Krapović explained that the day after that, a new act was delivered to the same offices, identical in content to the previous one, but with an accompanying act that was previously missing.

"I consider such a way of acting, especially when it comes to communication between state bodies, to be below the level of seriousness required by the institutional cooperation between the Parliament, the Government, the relevant ministry and the Army of Montenegro," Krapović pointed out.

He said that since taking office as Minister of Defense, he has, without exception, personally attended every session of the Committee on Security and Defense to which he was invited, as well as every session of the Parliament of Montenegro where issues within the competence of the Ministry of Defense were discussed.

Krapović stated that he did not do this formally, nor out of political necessity, but out of a deep conviction that responsibility to the Parliament is responsibility to the citizens of Montenegro.

He added that as a former MP and former member of the Committee on Security and Defense, he understands very well the importance of the control and oversight role of the Parliament over the executive branch and that he has never challenged that role, nor will he challenge it.

"On the contrary, I consider it one of the foundations of a democratic order and responsible government. That is precisely why, with my actions so far, I have shown full openness, respect for the Parliament and readiness to answer all questions within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense, within any institutionally correct framework," said Krapović.

According to him, respect for institutions must be mutual.

Krapović said that the principle of institutional control cannot be turned into political improvisation, nor can good practice of cooperation between the Parliament and the Government be subordinated to the daily political needs of any individual.

"This way of scheduling the Committee session violates the good and reasonable practice of, in communication between the competent committee and the line ministry, previously checking the minister's availability and agreeing on a date that allows for the responsible presence of all relevant participants, Committee members, representatives of the Government, the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Montenegro," Krapović pointed out.

He added that it is a question of the seriousness of institutions, a question of mutual respect between branches of government and order in state communication.

"Therefore, with regret, I note that this approach has disrupted the practice that has so far enabled correct, professional and responsible cooperation between the Parliament of Montenegro and the Ministry of Defense," Krapović assessed.

He said that the Ministry of Defense remains completely open to any form of parliamentary control, any discussion and issue that contributes to strengthening the defense system, transparency of work and protection of the public interest, but that he remains of the position that state institutions must be respected not only in words, but also in actions.

"Because a state is not built through improvisation, political pressure and procedural frivolity, but through order, responsibility and mutual respect," concluded Krapović.