The temporary committee is the last chance for the Albanians to solve the issue of representation in the parliament, but also for the Montenegrin society to change something for the better, said former MP Vaselj Sinistaj.
He told the MINA agency that there are two reasons why the guaranteed mandates should be returned to the Albanian parties.
"One thing is the fact that not a single deputy from the Albanian subjects voted for the Constitution of Montenegro. And the Constitution did not contain the request of the Council of Europe, expressed through the signing of the Declaration, on the minimum of minority rights. That was the first signal that there would be no guarantee of acquired rights," Sinistaj said.
He states as another reason that Albanians, after the adoption of the new Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament, "despite affirmative action, are affirmatively discriminated against."
Siništaj pointed out that the Albanians from four to five parliamentary mandates are currently reduced to one, with the possibility that tomorrow there might not even be one, and added that the threshold of three percent, which is foreseen for the representatives of the Albanian minorities, is difficult to provide.
When asked if the temporary committee is the last chance to return guaranteed mandates to Albanians, Sinistaj said that it is not only the chance of Albanian parties, but of Montenegrin society to change something for the better.
"There are more reasons to fight because we think this is the last train to catch what was taken away as an acquired right," Sinistaj said.
He reminded that the Albanians had the right to guaranteed mandates until 2011 and that it was taken away from them with the explanation that this breaks the civil concept of the state and that the biggest legal act in Montenegro does not recognize the majority and the minority.
"We developed the concept of civil state, which does not work. And that's a shortcoming. We can say that we are somewhat satisfied with the Constitution, although there was no special provision as a guarantee of acquired rights," Sinistaj said.
He said that they have nothing against the Croatian people.
"On the contrary, we wish that everyone achieves what they should, but the civil concept of the state will not be touched if something is given that is very specific for Albanians, in terms of history, language and writing. "We are the only ones who are specific in this regard, but we are denied that right," Sinistaj said.
As he stated, the Croats with 0,35 percent, or less than a thousand votes, have the same mandate as the Albanians, with the fact that they also have a vice president in the government, while the Albanians only have ministers.
"It is up to the Prime Minister how he will shape the policy, but we must all be equal before the law and we were very close to realizing that right." I know and it is clear to me that our disagreements, internal political quarrels are costing us", said Sinistaj.
One should not, he says, sink deeper than the moment to spite anyone.
"We must take care not for ourselves, but for future young generations and ensure that there is a certain number of mandates, and not in such a way that on the last day, I'm afraid, someone will remember again and give an amendment. "Here we are ready, but we do not have a two-thirds majority Sinistaj said.
As he said, he believes that this time the National Council of Albanians will at least form an expert, legal team, hire someone from outside and send a request to the Assembly, because by September 20 of the following year, that work must be completed.
Sinistaj recalled that the "Albanians resolutely" coalition had an agreement with the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) to resolve the issue of guaranteed mandates for Albanians by 2020.
"If we do not succeed through the parliamentary procedure, we should send a message to the European mission in Montenegro and say that the Council of Europe has been tricked, that the request they signed themselves has not been complied with, that will be prescribed by the Constitution," Sinistaj said.
He explained that the scope of minority rights cannot be reduced, but only increased, and reminded that Albanians, when their rights were revoked, had five mandates and a separate electoral seat.
"That should never have happened, no way when you give guarantees to the Council of Europe, you sign as if it will happen, but it doesn't." Well, they were also obliged to take measures," Sinistaj said.
When everything depends on political will, even what is legal, human and civil then, adds Sinistaj, it is not good.
"If something is born crooked, it will be crooked, it will be difficult to straighten. "Unfortunately, everything depends on political will and some trade that is not good at any time," concluded Sinistaj.
The Social Democrats of Montenegro told the MINA agency that one of the main tasks of the temporary parliamentary committee is to work on defining proposals for amendments to the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament, within which the question of affirmative action can be raised as a legitimate issue.
"We certainly believe that this and other segments of the further improvement of the electoral legislation should be discussed constructively within the framework of the temporary parliamentary body", said the SD.
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