World

Djukanovic: “NATO invitation to Montenegro positive Signal”

In the question of a NATO membership is the Montenegrin society is split – similar to how once the Referendum on independence, said the Premier of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic.

Protests against the NATO membership of Montenegro (12.12.2015)

Montenegro wants into Nato. The invitation for this came at the end of 2015. But there are obstacles. What is the state of things with the NATO membership of Montenegro at the moment?

Montenegro has the invitation at the end of last year. And this is not only the biggest success for 2015 for our country, but also the culmination of all of our reform efforts since our independence in 2006. This is also for Montenegro, a historic change, because we are a part of a new value system, a part of the Euro-Atlantic community. But it is also important for the stability and further development of the Region of the Western Balkans.

Since 2008, when Albania and Croatia NATO members, there were no further accessions to the Alliance. In addition, we had in the past eight years, the European economic crisis. This difficult Situation is also the target of EU and NATO enlargement used. And you have the opportunity, certain illusions about certain Alternatives in our Region to stir up. And that is why we believe that the invitation to Montenegro for membership in NATO, but also our further EU-approach is a positive Signal for the whole Region.

Now, there are in the country and also international resistance – keyword Russia. How do you overcome Resistance?

The Montenegrin society is politically divided – this was in 2006, when the Referendum on independence of Montenegro is the case. Those who at that time, the majority against our independence were, and are today against our NATO membership. We have before the Referendum, said: We want to be independent, so that we can just use this way of the European, Euro-Atlantic Integration can proceed. And our enemies have said: no, We do not want that, we want to in this the Balkans remain, just as he is. My hope was that in the last ten years, that we may be a larger number of enemies to us. But unfortunately, these were years of crisis, not just the cheapest, to this emancipatory role to realize. I believe the pro-European course in Montenegro is much stronger than the Unabhängigkeitskurs was at the time.

After the vote of confidence taken in January, you have the Opposition offered to the government to participate. What is the state of things in this domestic crisis?

Milo Djukanovic: “”NATO is a big success for Montenegro”

After we get the invitation for NATO membership at the end of last year, I have proposed, we choose to go. But the Opposition has said, that you are not ready for the elections. You, of course, had a couple of arguments prepared by the legitimacy of the government in question wanted to ask. Then I have the no-Confidence vote in Parliament. The Finale of this vote of Confidence was my offer to the Opposition. I said: I do not share your opinion that it is in the previous elections, irregularities were. Because all previous elections, both OSCE) and the Council of Europe is pursuing. But I respect that you, as our opponents and Opposition they have doubts. Let’s get this doubt now from the table: Comes now in the government.

It’s not that someone is forcing. And it is not a symbolic offer, but I offer them the Post of Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister, interior Minister, Minister for agriculture and the Minister for social Affairs. There are just these departments, because the Opposition believed that in the ministries the resources are with which you Wahltäuschung or Wahlbeeinflussung can operate. The Opposition was maybe a little surprised by the offer. And now she is still in the Phase that you think about it.

There are also from Europe much criticism of Montenegro in relation to about to the rule of law, freedom of the media, the allegations of corruption. What do you do about it?

In Montenegro, there are, of course, all the problems you are having in any other country can find that on this path of evolution is, especially in the Balkans. Maybe some problems for us slightly larger than the other – from where comes this difference between reality and perception. This means that the whole picture, the whole perception, also the previous structures of Slobodan Milosevic have been formed.

And these arguments use the most, both at that time, at the time of Milosevic, as well as today, our opponent, a different image of our country, want to create. Around this picture to change, we work in a very transparent manner in the implementation of our goals. We have 22 Chapters opened with the EU. And we will continue. We have the invitation for NATO membership. And I am firmly convinced that we are not as bad as Milosevic for us at the time and our opponents are to us today. If we were bad, then it would be us, the EU and also the NATO is not so far. And do you believe that someone is this offering to the Opposition would do, if he has anything to hide?

The major issue in the Region is the refugee issue. Montenegro has so far not been affected. How to prepare Montenegro for the fact that if any refugees in your country come from?

We track very carefully what is happening in relation to this question. And as a very responsible Candidate country on the way to the EU, we are also pursuing a very concrete way what the EU in this field prepared. We have all our structures are prepared, there should be a change in the main route. We are also ready to include this topic. And we are, of course, the policy on the EU level is coordinated in cooperation with our neighbouring countries.

The interview was conducted by Adelheid Feilcke

Milo Djukanovic is since December 2012, the incumbent Prime Minister of Montenegro. Prior to that he was President of the Republic of Montenegro (1998-2002) and multiple (1991-1998, 2002-2006, and 2008-2010) Prime Minister of his country. He is also since 1997, Chairman of the dauerregierenden Democratic party of socialists of Montenegro.