The Montenegrin Parliament has done at least three very problematic things in the past year to the detriment of the European integration process, said Head of State Jakov Milatović today at a conference marking the 25th anniversary of the Association of Court Experts of Montenegro.
He explained that these are the resolution on the genocide in Jasenovac, adopted last summer, the cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed in April this year, and the failure to elect judges to the Constitutional Court.
"Number one, the resolution on Jasenovac, which de facto complicated our relationship with Croatia and also reduced our negotiating position in relation to some issues that are important to us in that relationship. Number two, the adoption of the law on that extremely non-transparent contract with the UAE. Absolutely against all laws, the Constitution and best European practices regarding public procurement and public tenders. And number three, irresponsibility when it comes to the election of judges of the Constitutional Court. And I see these as three truly irresponsible actions of the parliamentary majority in the Parliament of Montenegro that are directly detrimental to our European path," said Milatović.
"What concerns me, I did. I proposed a judge of the Constitutional Court, you know that it took half a year for that proposal to be put on the agenda. So where is that? That's not normal. When it came to that, they tried to really open up some issues that were so unprofessional. You saw that the Bar Association also reacted, you know what I'm talking about here. They objected as if I hadn't consulted the parliamentary majority enough," he added.
Milatović said that yesterday he sent a letter to every MP in parliament and offered several dates for consultations.
"... I also invited the candidate to attend all these consultations, to answer literally every possible question that any MP has in relation to the candidate I proposed, or rather the candidate. Is that fair? I think it is fair. I think, as the vote showed, that the candidate I proposed exclusively due to her expertise is the only one who can get the votes of the entire parliament tomorrow. And I think that, if they are responsible towards the citizens and towards our European path, that should simply be the outcome of the second vote that will take place in a month, a month and a few days," the President of Montenegro stated.
Asked about the fact that Miloš Medenica, who is accused of creating a criminal organization, has had his detention expired, Milatović said he did not want to comment on any individual case.
"I want to put things this way, from a principled perspective. First, it is truly worrying that a judicial verdict cannot be issued within a period of three years. Build a highway in three years. and not that you cannot finally wrap up a case in the judiciary. I have asked a question here and I want to ask it again today. We simply have to start determining whose responsibility it is. Is it the responsibility of prosecutors who inadequately write indictments or is it the responsibility of the courts that ultimately approach these cases quite inefficiently. But I think that what I am saying right now is simply what every citizen in Montenegro thinks. I call for accountability for both the prosecutorial and judicial branches of government," Milatović emphasized.
He said that "unfortunately, justice in Montenegro ends with initial arrests."
"We should not have such justice. If that is justice, it is better not to have it. So, citizens expect the case to be brought to an end. Of course, respecting the presumption of innocence, each of us has the right to that, but justice must also have its judicial epilogue in the end. We need to know whether someone is guilty or not guilty of something for which they were arrested. I really believe that some accountability must finally be introduced," he said.
He called on the Prosecutorial and Judicial Councils, as well as the President of the Supreme Court, Valentina Pavličić, "to see who is responsible for this conduct, which is truly worrying."
"I say again, not commenting on any individual case, but generally something that all citizens in Montenegro see, which is simply happening, and that is, I say, justice does not get its epilogue. I think that is also bad for these people who are going through all these cases. Not only for the citizens of Montenegro who are eager for justice. If we are eager for anything in Montenegro, we are eager for justice. But that justice never gets its final epilogue," said the head of state.
When asked to comment on the requests from certain associations to the Government to remove the memorial in Morinje, Milatović responded that the monument in Morinje was erected "in a manner that is not in accordance with the law!".
"Is that true or not? I think that if that's true, that's where the whole story ends. If we're going to be principled, we can't be principled here without being principled in some other sense. That's why I said, don't do it now, because everyone in Montenegro knows who made an unnecessary move by passing the resolution in Jasenovac, who opened that Pandora's box and who then currently reduced our negotiating position, as Montenegro, in relation to some open issues. I said the other day, can we take care of our state dignity a little? Do we have it? If we have it, give it to some state that is also tasked with taking care of it and protecting it," he said.
Milatović announced that Montenegro will host the Western Balkans Summit next June.
"First of all, this is great news. I announced it yesterday after a conversation I had in Brussels with the President of the European Council. For the first time, pay attention to this, for the first time in the history of Montenegro in one day, on June 1st next year, just when we are celebrating 20 years since the restoration of our independence, which I believe we are all proud of, there are probably some who may not still be proud of it, I am. We are celebrating this together with our most important strategic partners. Pay attention, with 27 heads of state or government of the EU member states. So, next year, Maron, Mertz, Meloni, Tusk, and all the other leaders of European states will come here. Of course, the leaders of the Western Balkan countries will be there. And we will be the host. Pay attention to what a message of confidence this is towards Montenegro at this crucial moment for the completion of our negotiation process. So I am very much looking forward to it. I think it will be a challenging thing for us as well. For the first time in Montenegro, we are organizing an event of this magnitude, it is more than 30 European leaders together with the leaders "Of course, European institutions. So, logistically, it is probably a challenging thing for us. Of course, I expect full support from the Police Directorate and all other competent authorities so that we can really show our common home in the best possible light, which is European Montenegro, and so that we can then, I hope, celebrate our entry into the EU together two years later," Milatović said.
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