Government: State property, interests, and citizens must be protected

Podgorica, Montenegro (7 November 2013) – At today's cabinet sitting, the Government of Montenegro called on competent authorities to take necessary measures required to protect state property and interests from hindrance made by various politically motivated groups. In that regard, the Government tasked Deputy Prime Minister for political system, foreign and interior policy and Justice Minister Duško Marković to form a working group to discuss issues posing risk to state property and interests.

The decision comes after a long cabinet discussion on the recent problems of a citizen-organised blockade of the regional waste disposal landfill Vasove vode near Berane in northern Montenegro and yesterday’s attempted blockade by a small group of former factory workers of lorries carrying aluminium from the KAP aluminium plant in Podgorica, which also caused hindrance to production.

The working group, that will comprise representatives of the ministries of justice, the interior, economy, the police authority, the judiciary, and local self-government, will be tasked to analyse the relevant legal documents and to ascertain whether in these and other cases that caused detriment to state property and interest there has been any lack of normative framework prescribing preventive action, or whether the problems came from insufficient implementation of positive legal norms.

It was stated at the cabinet meeting today that political action that took place yesterday at the main gate of the KAP factory, undertaken by former employees who already received benefits, is merely a repetition of previous actions taken elsewhere. It was also noted that similar politically motivated performances are being organised from time to time at locations of importance for strategic investment and development projects.

It was concluded at the cabinet meeting that in these most recent instances, and in all previous cases, the state must show strength and resolution to provide protection for state property, interests, and the rights of citizens.