Government of Montenegro Public Relations Bureau asks the BBC to correct factual errors in their article on Montenegro

In response to the BBC article entitled “Can Montenegro shake off crime hub image?”, which appeared on www.bbc.co.uk on August 31 2010, the Government of Montenegro Public Relations Bureau has asked the BBC to publish corrections to a number of factual errors contained in the text and issued the following denial:

“Bearing in mind the reputation of the BBC and its influence on foreign publics, the Government of Montenegro Public Relations Bureau hereby categorically denies a number of false allegations and factual errors made in the BBC article entitled “Can Montenegro shake off crime hub image?”, which appeared on www.bbc.co.uk on August 31.

First, the author of the text argues that “there is substantial opposition to EU” in Montenegro. In fact, the truth is quite the opposite – according to the latest opinion polls, public support for Montenegro’s EU accession exceeds 70%.

Second, the BBC quotes a source claiming that the Prime Minister was indicted for a supposed “big crime”, which is again a complete falsehood.

The fact is the Prime Minister has never been indicted for any crime whatsoever. In fact, an investigation, not “indictment”, against him was dropped for lack of evidence, after he went to Bari, Italy, of his own accord, to give a statement to Italian prosecution authorities.

Next, Mr Shinawatra was granted Montenegrin citizenship as a potential investor in early January 2009, based on discretionary powers of the then Minister of the Interior, in accordance with Article 12 of the Montenegrin Citizenship Law.

At that time, there were no Interpol requests or notices for Mr Shinawatra’s arrest, no Thai arrest warrant, as the BBC claims, or any other legal obstacle to him being granted Montenegrin citizenship.

And finally, last year’s “seizure of Columbian cocaine”, mentioned by the BBC, was the result of a well-coordinated international operation, in which Montenegrin law enforcement agencies took part, and the suspects in the case are members of a large international criminal group, of half a dozen nationalities, and not exclusively Montenegrin nationals, as the BBC suggested.

The Montenegrin Government remains truly committed to democratic reform, which is continually recognized by all relevant international quarters, as is Montenegro’s evident progress in European and Euro-Atlantic integration (Montenegro stands on the brink of NATO membership and expects to obtain EU candidate status this autumn).

Furthermore, reputable investors’ unwavering interest in Montenegro, even in times of economic downturn, suggests that the country is stable, safe and governed by the rule of law.

The Government is aware that there are weaknesses and problems, which are, however, not specific to Montenegro and can be found even in the world’s most developed democracies.

We kindly ask you to publish these corrections to the factual errors made in the article.

Yours sincerely,

Government of Montenegro Public Relations Bureau”