Response to claims made by daily Vijesti: Government is not meddling, but acting under constitutional jurisdiction

Podgorica, Montenegro (21 October 2016) -- Concerning the incorrect interpretation in an article published by daily Vijesti on 21 October 2016, referring to the working conclusion the Montenegrin Cabinet reached at its 175th session, the Public Relations Service of the Government of Montenegro states the following:

Press release from the 175th session of the Cabinet did not use the term "allegedly planning of terrorist actions", as stated in the daily Vijesti’s article, but "actions of identifying and prosecuting persons who are reasonably suspected of forming a criminal organisation and terrorism in an attempt," as the criminal acts had been defined by the competent state authority.

Incorrect interpretation with the headline "Government is meddling with terrorists" insinuates that the Government is acting outside its jurisdiction. The Government is responsible under the Constitution to pursue internal and foreign policy, and the issue of security of the state is par excellence a matter of internal policy.

Therefore, the Government, according to its constitutionally prescribed jurisdiction and Article 22 of the Act on the Government, determined the working conclusion on a particular issue of importance to the implementation of the policy and it was precisely communicated to the public.