Following the recent escapes of persons involved in court proceedings and public disagreements between representatives of the security and judicial systems, the citizens of Montenegro rightly expect clear and responsible reactions from the competent institutions and political leaders.
This was assessed by the Strategy for a European and Civic Montenegro (STEGA).
"The Citizens' Association STEGA, based on the need to preserve trust in institutions and the stability of the system, believes that the lack of urgent response from key state bodies is difficult to understand and worrying. The silence of key actors in the system for several days leaves room for uncertainty and further undermines trust in the state's ability to respond to security challenges in a coordinated manner," the statement said.
According to them, at a time when Montenegro is on the verge of achieving its strategic goal, full membership in the European Union, it is of particular importance that all institutions of the system act in a synchronized and responsible manner.
"This is especially expected of the security sector, whose stability and coordination represent one of the key indicators of the institutional maturity of the state. In moments when serious issues of the functioning of the system arise, the public must not be left without clear messages of stability and responsibility. It is precisely at this time that leadership implies visibility, determination and a willingness to assume responsibility - and not withdrawal from the public space," reads the STEGA statement.
They added that citizens do not expect an infallible system, but they have the right to expect their elected representatives to demonstrate that the system works, that institutions cooperate with each other, and that there is a clear strategy to prevent similar events in the future.
"Therefore, STEGA calls for the immediate holding of sessions of the National Security Council and the Bureau for Operational Coordination - bodies that exist precisely to ensure a unified and coordinated system response in crisis situations - and for the conclusions to be clearly communicated to the public and demonstrate that the state has the capacity to react quickly, jointly and responsibly," the statement reads.
They also said that this is not a moment for institutional silence, but a moment for clear leadership.
"Citizens' trust is the most important asset of the security system - and it is preserved through transparency, coordination and timely action. Stable states are not defined by the absence of crises, but by the way their leaders respond to crises. The STEGA Association will, within the framework of its activities, continue to point out the importance of responsible and coordinated work of institutions, because security is the foundation of citizens' trust and the stability of every democratic society," the statement concludes.
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