MFA: Strong motive to doubt the correctness of media transmission of Lajčak’s words

In today’s papers, an interview with EU Special Representative for Western Balkans Miroslav Lajčak was published, in which an assessment was presented that for a faster progress of Montenegro towards the EU, a higher degree of political unity on key reforms and better representation of country’s interests towards that goal in Brussels, is needed. While agreeing with the stated, we remind that reforms and political dialogue are priorities which we discussed about during numerous meetings.

Still, doubt that quoting of the interlocutor by Pobjeda is not fully correct is worrying. It would be disappointing to discover that, either through the headline, or clever replacement of words, messages of those whose words mean a lot for Montenegro’s accelerated membership in the EU are being “tuned”. Specifically, there is a strong motive to doubt the alleged statement that the EU wants Montenegro to “get a pro-European Government again” with a majority support in the Parliament. If Lajčak said, what we are certain of, that he wants our country to “have” a pro-European executive authority, that is quite a natural statement and a wish of all EU officials which support our European path. This way, we want to point out that wordplay means a lot.

Truth is that, when it comes to all exchanged impressions during the previous period, we can talk only about gratitude to all EU partners for the encouragement to turn citizen’s huge support for EU membership into a reform momentum. Therefore, we express pleasure for entering the New Year with more promises given to our citizens that are fulfilled.

Firstly, recent assemblies of the Parliament where a wide agreement on key steps on the European path was achieved prove that Montenegro is capable of gathering political forces that care about European perspective into a wider front and guarantee for accelerated reforms in favor of the citizens and regardless of interparty differences or their parliamentary status. Adopting the innovative budget program for 2022. proposed by the Government, included a whole series of laws by which the economic reform program “Europe now” is becoming a reality and the economic model of our country is getting closer to the European one, while unprecedentedly increasing the standard of living of the citizens. Appointing members of the Prosecutorial Council which gained support even outside of the parliamentary majority also showed the capacity to respond to key recommendations of the European Commission in the rule of law field. We needed time, but together, we have shown that we can agree upon good solutions which are in the interest of the citizens. May these examples encourage us to secure progress in remaining tasks as well.

Finally, no government so far has responded to the recommendations of the EC Report for 2021 in a more responsible and systematic way than the current one – with the help of the Action plan for addressing recommendations from the Report, day and night, we try to achieve that the next report becomes most favorable for Montenegro. Membership in the EU is the strategic priority of all of us. It isn’t just our foreign policy goal, but also a winning formula for all our inner political aspirations.

Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joins in calling all actors to set aside their differences for the sake of this goal. We expect all political actors to, with good faith and with this principle in mind, take part in the dialogue on upcoming steps that lead towards membership.

Secondly, when it comes to Montenegro’s visibility in Brussels, we also enter the New Year with the Head of the Mission by whose accreditation in mid-December, a two-year interval without an Ambassador came to an end. With this progress, we prove that it is possible to reach an agreement when it comes to appointment despite political differences. By strengthening personnel in the Mission which is ongoing, we secure a much better presence of Montenegro in EU institutions. Also, the presence is systematically increasing through the digital sphere and the wider ecosystem of European policy. If we add to that a diplomatic offensive in the form of five fruitful ministerial and one visit on the Prime Minister level to Brussels since summer onwards, as well as a successful Inter-Government Conference which brought new understanding regarding priority reforms in the area of the rule of law, we can step into 2022 with optimism and certain that perennial lull that was mentioned in the interview with good intentions, is now a thing of the past.

In hope that in the New Year, we will all give everything to accomplish our goals, we wish to all citizens a peaceful and happy New Year’s eve.