Pejović additionally asked Spajić if it was true that he sought support for the law that would regulate the area of digital or crypto-assets from colleagues from DPS "through former officials who are close to some organized criminal groups, specifically Darko Šarić", and whether does he know Milos Tomić and George Cottrell and whether they are experts working on the regulation of crypto laws.
Spajić refused to answer this question and left the session after it.
After this act, Pejović pointed out that Article 188 obliges the Prime Minister to come to the Assembly and answer the questions of deputies.
"Given that he refused to answer my specific question, we can consider that as his answer. Even though Spajić left, that is, he ran away, I can tell him that Tomić was not known even by former minister Ivanović, although Tomić transported him to Switzerland together with Sarić , and it seems to me that he too will soon remember that acquaintance with him and with this other gentleman, otherwise a British financier and a convicted criminal, because there are some of us whose mother did not provide a reserve citizenship", said Pejović and added that to SPajić, "turning Montenegro into offshore land and haven for criminals will not pass".
The Vice-President of the Assembly Boris Pejović called on MP Pejović to "proceed all the knowledge she has as soon as possible to the SDT".
"You presented some constructions. I expect that you, if someone who was in PES, has arguments, materials and documents to take to the institutions, so that we can process it and finish with this story," said Pejović.
Jevrosima Pejović from the Special Club of Deputies asked Spajić, considering the need to ensure the monitoring and identification of crypto-assets, in order to prevent money laundering, financing of terrorism and other criminal acts, whether the Government is undertaking activities on the drafting of regulations governing the field of digital assets and what perceive as the biggest challenges in this segment?
The Prime Minister replied that more institutions are working on the drafting of the law, which will bring it on par with the most developed European countries in the field of monitoring and identifying crypto-assets.
"At the beginning of June 2023, the European Commission adopted the MiCA regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation), which governs the regulatory framework for crypto-assets. The MICA regulation regulates issues related to the issuance of certain types of crypto-assets, terms and methods of trading to those types of crypto-assets on the territory of the European Union, including the licensing of service providers. Also, the competences of the supervisory authorities are regulated, as well as the measures and other activities undertaken by the supervisory authorities!" said Spajić.
As he added, the Ministry of Finance, in cooperation with the Central Bank of Montenegro and the Commission for the Capital Market, has started preparatory activities on the drafting of a law that will regulate the field of digital or crypto-assets, in accordance with the MICA regulation.
"However, the regulatory framework has not been finalized at the level of the European Union, since the adoption of technical standards, which should enable the full functioning of the regulatory framework, is still in progress. After the harmonization of the European Union regulations, Montenegro will intensify activities on the development of the national regulatory framework", Spajic said.
The leader and deputy of the Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA) asked Spajić whether, during his mandate, the municipalities will finally be able to manage their marine resources.
Spajić said that managing marine assets is a complex issue and that it is necessary to provide adequate legal and institutional frameworks.
"This national asset, due to its exceptional importance, requires the full commitment and obligation of all state and local authorities, as well as all users of the space - to treat it in a way that will ensure the sustainable development of this area. Sustainable development first of all, but systemic regulated, so that this, like no other public good in Montenegro, is no longer dependent on who is in power, but serves exclusively to create additional value for the well-being of all citizens of Montenegro. That is why I believe that finding the right solution is for the management of the marine resource, it is necessary to seek a wider consensus. The Government of Montenegro will, through inclusive and open dialogues, proceed with the preparation of the new Law, which will regulate the area of the marine resource, which represents the basic prerequisite for creating adequate conditions for overall valorization, for social, and not personal gain," Spajić said.
He added that in the process of preparing this regulation, in the preparation of which the coastal municipalities will be involved, all relevant issues will be considered, including the issue of how to manage marine resources.
"At the same time, strictly taking into account all the protocols and conventions, of which we are signatories, but also following the EU directives related to the marine area. In the end, Mr. Zenka, I believe that it is necessary to work together to affirm a much greater involvement of individuals, interested groups, but also the coastal municipalities in the drafting of a new legal solution, which will guarantee that in the end everyone will be satisfied. Because with a good systemic response, we must ensure quality management of the marine resource and its full valorization, regardless of who manages it," said Spajić.
MP Boris Mugoša of the Social Democrats (SD) asked Spajić when and in what way one of his key promises will be fulfilled, namely full employment, i.e. an unemployment rate below four percent.
Spajić replied that the economic potential of Montenegro is large and largely untapped.
"Through the "Europe Now 1" economic program, which included a reduction in the tax burden on labor and an increase in the minimum wage of employees, we have shown that through a stimulating tax policy we can influence the improvement of the labor market. Namely, according to MONSTAT data, in January 2024 compared to the year 2021, the number of employees in Montenegro is higher by about 30 percent. The biggest impact on the positive trends in the labor market was the reduction of salary costs, which stimulated a large number of employers to transfer employees previously in the "gray zone" into legal streams, that is, they formalize their employment. The result is a drastic reduction of the 'informal economy' on the labor market, improved working status of employees and increased state revenues from tax collection and salary contributions," said Spajić.
He added that the labor market has recorded extremely positive trends over the past few years, so the average number of employees in Montenegro in 2023 was 244,5 thousand and is 9,3 percent higher than in 2022.
"When I spoke about full employment in Montenegro, I did not bid on percentages, but rather argued that, bearing in mind Montenegro's needs for labor, which are especially pronounced during the tourist season, but also the everyday demands of the economy for additional workers, that in Montenegro, everyone who wants to work should be offered a job. Our goal is that all unemployed persons, in accordance with the needs of the labor market, be offered a job in accordance with the current legal solutions, but we are also ready to change the existing solutions in such a way that persons who repeatedly refuse employment will not continue to be beneficiaries of unemployment benefits, which will discourage the passivity of persons at the Employment Office. The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare is dedicatedly working on numerous reforms that will be presented to the public soon, of which one of the most significant changes stands out of the Law on mediation in employment and rights during unemployment," Spajić said.
Abazović asked Spajić what his uncle's role was in personnel policy and decision-making in the Government.
The Prime Minister, responding to the URA GP MP, said that the issue at the nursery level is "whose uncle is stronger".
"Without politics, you wouldn't be able to do any honest work, just like many others in the political scene. When I get questions like this in the future, I will have them answered by ChatGPT. There are every opportunity for you to share the diagnosis and obsession with my family with the new coalition partner Medojević. I will remind you that According to his theory, I was married to the daughter of Zdravko Krivokapić when I was a minister," said Spajić and added that "like rejoices with like".
Spajić said that he has two uncles whose last name is Lopušin, and that neither of them lives in Montenegro and that they do not deal with staffing in the Government.
Spajić pointed out that the prime minister "does not have the luxury of improvisation".
"In the mandate of the 44th Government, a great step forward was made in the professionalization of public personnel. For the first time, half of the personnel are professionals," he said.
Abazović replied to Spajić's presentation that Spajić had sent one response before the session began, and read the other.
"I said - you reveal the identity. He is not your uncle. I asked who he connected you with on 1/5/2021?", Abazović asked him.
"The government is framed by Sreten Kankaraš, executive director of Grand and Vlade Bojović, who is behind the fake profile of Vojvoda Momčilo. Who is the new secretary of ANB? Is he a relative of Kankaraš? Who is the chief architect? Who is Vesna Simović Zvicer? Who is Dajana Bratić? Who is Bulatović in EPCG," said Abazović.
The leader of the Citizens' Movement URA Dritan Abazović claims that the deputy of the Europe Now Movement (PES) Darko Dragović paid bail for Do Kwon in the amount of 400.000 euros.
Member of the Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knežević asked Spajić "Is there a plan to sign an interstate agreement with Serbia on dual citizenship?"
Spajić replied that since roughly 300 Montenegrin citizens have dual citizenship, and that the current legislative framework does not recognize the majority of citizenships acquired in this way, the Government will, on the initiative of the Parliament of Montenegro, work on drafting a legislative framework in order to establish a system dual citizenship, following the example of EU countries.
Knežević then pretended to be talking about former citizens of Montenegro who lost their citizenship and live in Serbia.
"I don't know if everyone will take citizenship, but I know that a part will. We have to sign an agreement with Serbia in order to enter the legislation. For the referendum, 200.000 of our citizens had citizenship in Serbia, and on the other hand, 100.000 of them across the ocean had the right to vote because it was estimated that they will vote for a certain option. These people are not asking for the right to vote, but to have Montenegrin citizenship because they were born in Montenegro," said Knežević.
He also said that the census will show that there are less than 600.000 inhabitants in Montenegro, excluding Russians and Ukrainians.
"Who could deprive Montenegro of its citizens who are bound to it in every sense. We can resolve by agreement that they do not have the right to vote if they do not change their place of residence. Let's not give up our citizens," said Knežević.
Bosniak Party (BS) MP Damir Gutić asked Spajić on what Montenegro is basing its ambitious agenda for the construction of transport infrastructure in the coming period, considering, as he says, the capacities of the budget, which this year plans capital investments of 7,1 percent, as well as similar projections for the next two years.
Spajić said that this Government is absolutely committed to achieving three strategic goals: Full integration into the EU, the rule of law and accelerated economic development while improving the standards of our citizens.
"Construction of new and improvement of existing infrastructure is extremely important from the aspect of balanced regional development of Montenegro, but also the availability of the country as a tourist destination, creating conditions for diversifying the economy and strengthening its competitiveness in regional and international frameworks, improving the mobility of people and goods, attracting credible investment and a number of other aspects important for the economic perspective of our country's development. Due to all of the above, the development of the transport network, the improvement of the airport and railway infrastructure as well as the valorization of the potential of the Port of Bar are priorities on which this Government is maximally focused," Spajić pointed out.
That is why, as he added, the capital budget provided for the financing of the construction of the highway section Mateševo - Andrijevica, which did not diminish the comparative activities in securing the support of the European Commission and the EBRD.
"Active work from the very beginning of this Government's mandate, intensive communication and a great understanding of our European partners about the importance of speeding up the procedures for continuing construction, led to the fact that the European Commission will provide us with grants in the amount of 40 percent of the total value of the works on this section, which will amount to between 200 and 250 million euros. It is the largest single grant ever granted to Montenegro," Spajić said.
The remaining amount of funds necessary for financing will be provided from a soft loan, which will be approved by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
"The tender for this project is expected to be announced by the end of this year, while the pre-qualification tender will be announced during this month. You know very well that a grant of 112,6 million euros was received for the reconstruction of the railway infrastructure on the section from Bar to Podgorica. Therefore, by the end of this year, at least 312 million euros in grants will be available to Montenegro. What is the amount and how important it is for Montenegro is best illustrated by the fact that the total capital budget of our country for 2024 is 240 million euros, more than 70 million less," said Spajić.
As he adds, additional funds will be available to Montenegro through the EU Instrument for Reforms and Growth for the Western Balkans in the amount of 206 million euros for the needs of infrastructure projects until the end of 2027.
"Which is at the level of around half a billion of the total value of the projects, which can be nominated for financing in this way. It is precisely the values that are the heritage of the EU and the benefits of economic integration that are the best proof of the importance of insisting on accelerating the European path and implementing all the necessary reforms that have been implemented slowly and inefficiently," said Spajić.
The government, through Monteput, already in the first quarter of this year launched tender procedures for the preparation of conceptual projects and conceptual solutions for the sections of the highway Andrijevica - Berane - Boljare (conceptual project), the highway Andrijevica - Peć‚ the section Andrijevica - Čakor (conceptual solution), the intersection of the Bar - Boljare highway with the Adriatic-Ionian highway and the south expressway, the expressway on the section Crnča - Pljevlja - the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina (conceptual solution), and the expressway, crossing the Bay of Kotor (conceptual solution ).
"During the year, preliminary projects are planned for the Adriatic-Ionian highway, the section from Grahov to the intersection with the Bar-Boljare highway and the Bar-Boljare highway, the Podgorica-Bar section," said Spajić.
He adds that during the year, it is planned to create preliminary solutions for the Adriatic - Ionian highway, the section from the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina to Grahov, the Adriatic - Ionian highway, the Bar - Ulcinj section, high-speed roads on the Podgorica - Nikšić section, as well as high-speed roads on sections Smokovac - Božaj.
"All this is more than enough proof that one of the primary goals of this government is the construction of transport infrastructure, because without a good transport infrastructure there is no economic development of the country, good tourist offer, better connectivity and accessibility, and therefore every necessary financial investment is justified, because investing in transport infrastructure is investing in the future of Montenegro," Spajić said.
Member of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) Slaven Radunović said that for years traffic chaos on Montenegrin roads, during the summer tourist season, is the main limiting factor for the serious growth of income from tourism.
"We have great natural and cultural-historical attractions, a rich gastronomic offer, top resorts and tourists who want to visit all that and spend money, but they simply can't get to all those places, because they need 3-4 hours of driving for about thirty kilometers. in one direction," said Radunović.
He asked Spajić, "Does the Government have a strategy for urgently alleviating this problem, in the short term, until the big planned and already started infrastructure projects are implemented, which will permanently relieve us of traffic collapses?"
Spajić said that from the very beginning of this Government's work, they recognized the poor traffic infrastructure as a bottleneck and one of the barriers to more effective valorization of Montenegro's tourism potential.
"The development of that economic branch is extremely important for the overall economic progress of our country. That is why we marked the improvement of infrastructure as one of the priorities, and we immediately moved from words to actions. This is evidenced by the fact that today we can say that about 10% of the total traffic infrastructure in Montenegro is currently undergoing construction or reconstruction works. It is important to point out that before the summer tourist season, works will be completed on important road routes, such as: Rožaje-Špiljane, Nikšić-Kuside, Jasenovo Polje-Vidrovan, while on others construction sites, the work should be stopped or the performance adapted in such a way as not to interfere with the flow of traffic," Spajić pointed out.
He added that the Tivat-Jaz boulevard, whose construction has begun and whose completion is expected in January 2026, is a very important road that will contribute to reducing congestion, since the highest frequency of traffic is on the same road, especially during the summer tourist season.
"At the same time, I believe you are aware that the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs is working intensively on the establishment of an international maritime line that will connect Budva and Dubrovnik in the summer tourist season, as well as on the establishment of a maritime connection between Montenegro and Italy. The establishment of international maritime lines brings numerous benefits which are primarily reflected in the reduction of crowds, the relief of road infrastructure, faster passenger transport, faster border control in the summer months, as well as the promotion of maritime transport as a more environmentally friendly form of transport. Also, in this way, passengers who are in transit through Montenegro can to use these modes of transport as well and thus relieve road traffic," Spajić said.
He said that in parallel with the development of maritime connections with foreign countries, they plan to work in the coming period to create an environment that will be conducive to the establishment of liner transport in internal maritime traffic, in order to further relieve the burden on the road infrastructure, that is, to directly affect the reduction of congestion along the coast. in the summer months.
"One of the bottlenecks and a significant obstacle to the further valorization of tourist potential is the state of the airport infrastructure in Montenegro. That is why, immediately after the formation of the Government, we started to resolve the issue of the tender procedure for the eventual concession of the airport, which, believe it or not, has been going on since 2019 and has never been resulted in the closing of the procedure, whether it was the selection of the most optimal offer or the abandonment of the procedure. This Government has entered the third phase of the procedure and just yesterday the Government adopted a contract with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which will continue to provide advisory services to the Government in this process. We are also considering all options for using the great potential of Port Bar," said Spajić.
In his answer, he stated that two grants from the European Commission have been secured, which will bring Montenegro over 300 million euros in grants for the reconstruction of the railway infrastructure and the continuation of the highway construction.
"We want to realize these projects as soon as possible, in order to solve the challenge from your question in the most efficient way. On the other hand, the issue of traffic jams during the summer tourist season is not a novelty, nor is it exclusive to Montenegro, because other countries also face similar barriers , which are more or less tourist-oriented. Our problem is also that we have a large number of motor vehicles. According to official data, Montenegro had 2022 registered vehicles in 266.747, and what is perhaps even more impressive, is 25% more registered vehicles , than the year before. Also, in the last year as well as in this year, on certain road routes we have a constant increase in the volume of traffic compared to the same period in previous years, for example, the opening of the highway generated new traffic, 20% more than this was previously the case on the Podgorica-Kolašin route. These data, as well as the fact that there is a significant influx of foreign motor vehicles during the summer tourist season, indicate that the existing traffic infrastructure, which includes state and municipal roads as well as parking space, does not have adequate capacity to enable smooth traffic and sufficient traffic flow at all times," said Spajić.
The Prime Minister said that the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs in its strategic and program documents has established long-term and short-term measures, which will contribute to the greater development of transport infrastructure, the organization and offer of public transport for passengers, the creation of preconditions for the development and improvement of other modes of transport, all for the purpose has better and sustainable mobility.
"As you know, the Ministry continuously invests significant financial resources in the development of road infrastructure. This year, in the Capital Budget, it is planned to provide over 70 million euros for regular and investment maintenance, reconstruction and construction of main and regional roads, it is planned to continue or work begins on the construction and reconstruction of approx. 230 km of regional and main roads, namely: 120 km in the northern region, 75 km in the central region and 36 km in the coastal region. However, the construction and improvement of road infrastructure cannot completely solve the expected traffic jams during the summer tourist season, in addition to measures at the state level, measures must also be taken at the local level, in such a way as to apply modern technical solutions and traffic policies that will significantly reduce the negative effects resulting from traffic (crowds, environmental pollution and traffic accidents)", Spajić said.
He also said that through the policy of more efficient parking charges, the promotion of pedestrian and bicycle traffic, the establishment and improvement of public urban passenger transport, modern traffic management systems (intelligent transport systems) and other tools and traffic solutions, local self-government units can significantly contribute to reducing traffic congestion. during the summer tourist season.
"Furthermore, we can emphasize that the Ministry, in cooperation with road transport operators, is making great efforts to ensure that there is an optimal number of intercity lines on the territory of Montenegro, with the aim of using a collective form of transport, which directly affects the reduction of traffic congestion. At this moment 370 intercity lines are active. As you gave a clear conclusion in your question, only the implementation of large infrastructure projects, such as the Bar-Boljare highway, the Adriatic-Ionian highway, the high-speed road along the coast, the new road route Krstac-Trojica-Kotor, international the Budva-Dubrovnik maritime line, the maritime connection between Montenegro and Italy and many other projects that we plan to start or fully implement in the next medium-term period will solve the problem of traffic jams in the summer months and significantly improve the connectivity and road accessibility of Montenegro. We must be aware that in addition to state policy and policy at the local level, which aims to improve traffic, all of us, by personal example and actions, significantly influence the traffic situation. And in this sense, it is necessary that we all make additional efforts together, bearing in mind that there will always be traffic jams, which is also the case in other countries, especially those that are tourist-oriented and in which there is a significant influx of vehicles and pedestrians," he said. Spajic.
The deputy of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Danijel Živković told Spajić that they understood that he would resign if the Administrative Court ruled that he violated the law.
"You are sitting in the government with the minister who sued you. Krapović stated that the government is not stable, even though you claim that. The Democrats say that they give temporary support until IBAR is obtained. You would never be able to sit in that position if it were not for the DPS First, you would not be able to be the prime minister of independent Montenegro, and secondly, we have opened chapters. I don't think you are writing your answers," said Živković.
He said that MP and leader of the Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knežević sent the party's MP Maja Viukićevioć to vote against Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe.
Knežević said that he did not send Vukićević, but that she was chosen to be the representative.
"It is known what the position of our party is. And speaking of Kosovo, now I will ask you if you know who this man is? This is Ekrem Bajrović, a Montenegrin citizen who was arrested because he would not sell his house to his Albanian neighbors. He is in 17 months in prison on the basis of a rigged process and rigged witnesses for some alleged war crime that they remembered after 20 years. Will we remember him? As long as there are Bajrović and similar people like you who hunted Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija who were displaced in Montenegro Gori, we will vote against Kosovo," Zivkovic said.
The MP of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Danijel Živković said that recently the government illegally appointed the acting director of the police.
"Will you resign if the Administrative Court, based on the complaint of the Minister of Internal Affairs, confirms with a verdict that you personally acted illegally during this appointment?" asked Živković Spajić.
He said that security policy is important both for our citizens and for our European path.
"Do the Government and the parliamentary majority have agreed policies on which several publicly proclaimed positions depend to a great extent - the acceleration of the integration process, the Euro-Atlantic orientation of foreign policy and credible membership in NATO? Would you be prepared to propose the dismissal of those in the Government who deviate from these goals that you proclaimed at the beginning of their mandate?" asked Živković.
Spajić replied that he did not want to comment and in no way prejudge the outcome of the Administrative Court's decision.
"The Government of Montenegro will act according to the verdict of the Administrative Court, whatever the outcome, although I understand that it is immanent to your political mentality to take over the competence of other branches of government. I suggest that we at least refrain from doing so today. I wonder how your question would be if at the head of this important security institution remained a man who does not have the trust of the executive power, or that the Government appointed another who also does not have it, or that we left this position vacant and caused a real security crisis, or else made it a risk for the possibility of receiving IBAR" , Spajić said.
He added that the appointment of Acting Director of the Police Administration, Aleksandar Radović, from the list submitted to the Government, is the only solution that guarantees Montenegro's European path.
"Therefore, please, do not keep the European perspective from Milojko Spajić. If nothing at least for one simple reason - in just five months of the mandate of the 44th Government, more has been done in this sense than in the last decade. And I am not the only one saying that. And not just see who won't," said Spajić
He said that if the same situation were to happen again, he would again stand by the choice of the best candidate, as would most of the members of the Government, who, as he said, first of all authorized him to propose a candidate and voted for his appointment.
"As you know, Aleksandar Radović is a long-term police officer with an impressive resume - among other things, he was a liaison officer at Europol on two occasions, thanks to whom we have the Sky correspondence, and the only one who at the time of the election was in the full term of the assistant director of the Police Administration. So this is a candidate who has the Government (which elects him) to implement the security policy which (we agree) is important for our citizens and our European path," said Spajić.
He said that the members of the parliamentary majority signed a clear agreement that defines the framework of their activities.
"As long as we all stick to the agreed principles in the decision-making process (I emphasize in the decision-making process) - I will not propose any solutions because there is no need for that. Would the opposition wish for that - certainly. But leaving this Government is a sure way to political uncertainty , and I don't want that for my partners. Not for any of them," said Spajić.
He told Živković that he should not worry about the stability of the parliamentary majority either.
"The parliamentary majority is stable, makes decisions, ensures the necessary processes and what is more important - it is more stable than all the previous ones, even in terms of the number of mandates of those whose party was a constituent. And don't blame me, I will not comment on the evaluations of the actions of this or that individual, especially not the MPs in this parliament. I have great respect for each individual and moreover I encourage all MPs to be independent in their actions as they should be. I will not comment on political attacks and challenges against me personally as non-European oriented, insincere, one way or another - all kinds of things can hear in public discourse today. As you can see, I am absolutely above those topics and such a situation," Spajić said.
He said that he and the Government he leads are interested in the results.
"You, of course, will never accept them. But that is also legitimate. In June, this Government expects to receive IBAR, finally closing certain chapters. We also expect large investment projects and reforms that will mean better living conditions for our citizens. I think that no one saw anything bad from me and my politics. Neither from the Europe now 1 program nor from the Europe now 2 program. On the contrary," Spajić stated in his reply to Živković.
MP Miodrag Laković of the Europe Now Movement (PES) asked Spajić how he plans to protect Montenegrin society, the electoral system and democracy from subversive actions, which we witnessed during the Do Kwon affair, in the coming period.
"Immediately before the elections on June 11, we witnessed the creation of the so-called Do Kwon affair and a brutal abuse of state institutions in an attempt to discredit political opponents. A few days ago, we had the opportunity to hear from Do Kwon's lawyer, Mr. Rodić, that he denied the allegations about drip financing, or the Europe Now Movement. The lawyer stated that his client was abused when writing the letter, and that the same was aimed at weakening the strongest political entity in Montenegro. That affair, which threatened the democracy and objectivity of the election process, is still remains a great burden on Montenegrin politics and judicial institutions. The abuse of state institutions is primarily reflected in the abuse of the National Security Council, which was convened because of the Do Kwon letter, and whose purpose and mission is not to deal with operational cases and information, nor to unverified information is alarming the public," said Laković.
Spajić said that he has said more than enough on this topic in the past period, and he also gave a detailed statement to the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) in his capacity as a citizen.
"You also said that right before the elections on June 11, we were, I quote, witnesses of the brutal abuse of state institutions to try to discredit political opponents. You put it nicely, but let's translate it into plain language - We were witnesses of a brutal fabrication by which they wanted to exclude me from the election race. Do Kwon was a willing or unwilling accomplice of that failed attempt, and I look forward to finally finding out the truth," Spajić said.
He said that it is first of all important to keep in mind that the management of the national security system is governed by the Constitution of Montenegro, laws and by-laws for the implementation of the national security system.
"Also, the intelligence and security sector is part of the national security system and its direction and coordination is carried out by the National Security Council. The example of flagrant abuse of the National Security Council in the so-called Do Kwon affair is a warning and an alarm to both our institutions and society that we are still we have not released the assets inherent in totalitarian societies. Therefore, the Government will make maximum efforts to ensure that all actors and public office holders work in accordance with the law and only in the domain of competences that belong to them departmentally or functionally," Spajić said.
He said that in this direction, in the coming period, the Government will initiate a review of all strategic documents and legal and by-laws in the domain of national security, in order primarily to identify legal (but also essential) inconsistencies that very likely leave room for different interpretations of jurisdiction within the system national security.
"This space will certainly not be used in a negative way by a responsible political decision-maker, but the example of the affair related to your question (again, I return to it as an exemplary example) best illustrates the risks to democracy that an irresponsible individual in a position of power can have. So, through the elimination of legal ambiguities and a more precise formulation of the competences of, for example, the National Security Council and the Bureau for Operational Coordination, this manipulative space for an unscrupulous actor could potentially be narrowed," said Spajić.
In his answer, he stated that perhaps the more important task of this Government will be to raise the level of awareness among citizens so that they will be able to more effectively recognize the actions of domestic or foreign actors whose character has forms of hybrid activities.
"In this regard, one of the ongoing tasks of the Government is the completion of the first national Response Strategy for countering hybrid threats for the period 2024-2028. I believe that this will be a good step in the direction of building a strong national security system, capable of adapting and fully responses to all contemporary security challenges, subversive activities, propaganda, misinformation, interference in election processes, risks and threats. Achieving the desired level of security is a prerequisite for the well-being of the state, society and every individual, because security enables progress and prosperity in all fields, it is the guarantor of domestic and foreign investments and a catalyst for tourism," said Spajić.
According to him, as one of the ways to protect subversive activities, the Government will continue work on strengthening institutions, especially the judicial system, in the fight against organized crime, corruption and strengthening the rule of law.
"Finally, I support the SDT to determine as soon as possible who all participated in the abuse of Do Kwon to set up an affair a few days before the election. It is extremely important that the competent authorities determine every detail of this affair, so that we can clear up many things, debunk many self-proclaimed fighters for justice and prevented all potential misuse of state resources for political purposes," concluded Spajić.
Member of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Drita Lola said that they sent questions back in January to be answered by the Minister of Agriculture.
"How can we act as MPs if the legal obligation to answer us within the deadline is not respected? We received answers that some ministers will not answer in parliament until April 20. You are not respecting the obligation you have to come and answer," said Lola.
The President of the Assembly Andrija Mandić said that he agreed with Lola and appealed to the ministers to come to the Assembly and answer the questions of the MPs as soon as possible.
"Each deputy represents 4.000 citizens," said Mandic.
Social Democrats (SD) MP Nikola Zirojević said that he and his colleague Boris Mugoša entered around 11:05, and that the hall was empty, and that they received answers only around 11:15.
"It seems that we will have to hunt for ministers around the world because the government is more like a tourist agency. It has never happened that MPs do not know if the prime minister will appear at the prime minister's hour," said Zirojević.
Member of the Civic Movement URA Miloš Konatar said that they have a problem with Article 188 of the Rules of Procedure, where it is written that the member of parliament is obliged to submit the question at least 48 hours before the start of the session.
"I expected, because it was practice, that we would receive a schedule of answers from ministers because it is practice for citizens to receive answers from ministers. We received information yesterday that in the next 20 days we cannot schedule a session where we would ask other ministers. Maybe those questions will not be relevant in 20 days. Parliament has never been more subordinated to the Government's wishes than now," Konatar said.
The President of the Assembly Andrija Mandić said that yesterday they agreed on two days for the ministers - Tuesday and Wednesday, because Monday is the session of the Roma Parliament.
"We made a plan. We made arrangements for colleagues from the Bosniak Party (BS) and for the ministers who will not be there but on an official trip. I remember well what this parliament was like and I don't think it was ever this free. When the prime minister was "Milo Đukanović, the Prime Minister's Hour did not start until it was counted whether all the MPs were there," said Mandić.
Konatar said that the other MPs were expecting some answer from Mandić.
"We knew the schedule of when the prime minister would answer, when the vice presidents would answer, when the ministers would answer. I am proud to be in opposition to you and this majority. At the beginning of this session, we had no idea when we would get answers from the ministers," Konatar said.
Mandić told Konatar that "as a member of Darko Pajović's party, you respect his presidency more".
Konatar said that Mandic told the lie that he was a member of Darko Pajović's party at the time when he presided over the Assembly.
"You are now trying to be humorous, calm and trying on a personal level. We can always look each other in the eye. I pointed out to you the violation of the rules of procedure and referred to Article 188. I asked when you will give us the schedule both for my sake and for yours deputies because I think it is the respect of the Assembly. You cannot insult me, but it is good that you show your true face. I do not believe in your conciliatory role that you are trying to present. I referred to the Rules of Procedure without personal connotations," Konatar said.
During the prime minister's hour, Spajić will be asked about his uncle, staffing, resignation, Do Kwon...
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić will be asked questions by members of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), the Citizens' Movement (GP) URA, the New Serbian Democracy (NSD), the Europe Now Movement (PES), the Democratic People's Party (DNP), the Social Democrats ( SD), the Bosniak Party (BS), the Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA) and a special club of deputies.
Bonus video:
