PM Krivokapić meets with EU HoMs: Dialogue, tolerance and compromise always yield positive results

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić met today in Villa Gorica with the EU Heads of Mission in Montenegro.

Prime Minister Krivokapić said that the goal of such meetings is always the same - to jointly identify issues that need special attention in the next phase of Montenegro's European path, especially after the first political Intergovernmental conference with the EU on 22 June 2021 in Luxembourg.

PM Krivokapić pointed out that Montenegro is well aware of the fact that the EU is based on the values of open society and unity, inclusiveness, dialogue, tolerance and diversity, and that these are the values cherished by the current Government of Montenegro. He pointed out that the entire society has been dealing with the issue of the enthronement of His Eminence, Mr. Joanikije, for two months now, but in a way that cannot always be assessed as completely rational and well-intentioned, and that the Government's intention has always been that all Montenegrin citizens show tolerance.

We talked with the citizens and with the representatives of the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, and the representatives of the local self-government. We had a session of the Council and as Prime Minister, I encouraged the holding of a session of the Security Council. We did everything that was our duty, and what is expected of us in such demanding situations, said Krivokapić.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the current Government wants to be guided by positive, European examples and experiences that imply preventive action of the police, and that the use of force or repressive methods by the government, which is a symbol of freedom and democratic change in Montenegro, is something that never leads to a positive solution.

I am glad that the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church has decided to limit the religious gathering. I hope that peace, understanding and what Montenegro lacks the most, and that is tolerance, will still prevail. Peace and stability have no alternative and we are working intensively on that, said Krivokapić.

The Prime Minister expressed hope that all political actors in Montenegro, without exception, will show high conscientiousness and responsibility, because the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral has made a big step in favor of civic tolerance, understanding, love and peace, and decided not to use the unquestionable right to organise a nationwide gathering. This narrows the space for all those who would like to profit politically from planned, staged incidents and conflicts, to the detriment of the citizens of Montenegro.

In the light of the latest epidemiological situation in Montenegro, Prime Minister Krivokapić also informed the guests about the decision of the Ministry of Health, which the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, as the organiser of the ceremony, is certainly obliged to respect.

Krivokapić said that in order to achieve the set goal - EU membership, the Government is aware that it is obliged to encourage political dialogue on all issues that require a two-thirds or three-fifths majority in the Parliament, and to try to send a message to all domestic political actors to reach a social consensus as soon as possible, so that the commitment of the citizens of Montenegro towards the EU is fully respected.

The newly formed team, within the Ministry of Justice, headed by State Secretary Bojan Božović, works very dedicatedly and intensively on the Chapter 23, as well as the ministries in charge of other negotiating chapters. The fight against organised crime is already showing remarkable results. I must praise the Police Administration and the Revenue and Customs Administration, which managed to seize more than a ton of cocaine with the help of the international community, Krivokapić said.

Ambassador of the EU to Montenegro, H. E. Oana Cristina Popa expressed hope that the upcoming week will show Montenegro's capacity to make progress on the European path.

Dialogue is something that the EU implies and insists on. Montenegro needs unity, dialogue and joint work of all decision makers in the interest of all citizens. Preserving the tradition of interethnic and interfaith peace and harmony is key to its European future, said Ambassador Popa.

Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Slovenia in Montenegro Petra Gradišek presented the official position and expectations of the Republic of Slovenia that the Montenegrin Government will be able to cope with all current and future challenges, for the benefit of all citizens of Montenegro.

The European path is the most important for Montenegro, and Slovenia, which holds the presidency of the EU Council, expects the Government to make additional efforts to implement all policies leading to the EU. Slovenia will continue to support all the countries of the Western Balkans on that path, Gradišek said.