27 May 2019 - Minister of the Interior of Montenegro Mevludin Nuhodžić and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia and Minister of Internal Affairs Oliver Spasovski signed a Protocol on Cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro and the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia in the field of European integration. 

"The signing of the Protocol on Cooperation in the field of European integration will contribute to strengthening the cooperation between the two ministries, and we will make our capacities, regarding the implementation of obligations under chapters 23 and 24, available to our colleagues from North Macedonia. I believe that our expertise and experience during the negotiation process will be important for our colleagues from neighbouring country, and that, through this type of cooperation, we will further improve the exchange of information among the law enforcement institutions," Minister Nuhodžić said and added that the strong commitment of the two countries to the European and Euro-Atlantic perspective resulted in initiatives of common interest in the field of the internal affairs. 

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed specific activities which should be undertaken in the fight against organized crime, illegal migration, trafficking in human beings and terrorism. 

"Security challenges cross the borders of one country and can only be answered by joint forces and cooperation between states, and Montenegro and North Macedonia serve as an example," Nuhodžić stressed. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Oliver Spasovski expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between North Macedonia's and Montenegro's police, which is an important part of the overall bilateral relations, strategic partnership and trust between the two countries. 

"The joint session of the two governments confirms the close and friendly ties between Montenegro and North Macedonia, and intensive police cooperation is crucial for the stability and security of the Region," Minister Nuhodžić concluded.

23 May 2019 - Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev traveled to Podgorica on Thursday, 23rd May 2019 for a two-day official return visit to Montenegro at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Duško Marković. 

During the visit, a joint session of the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia will be organised, after which a number of bilateral documents will be signed, and the Business Forum Montenegro - North Macedonia, with the participation of the Prime Ministers, ministers and businessmen of the two countries. 

Prime Minister Marković was an official visit to the Republic of North Macedonia on October 16 and 17, 2017. On that occasion, the Prime Ministers Marković and Zaev concluded that between the two friendly states there are no open or unresolved issues, that the relations are excellent and that they are developing for the benefit of the citizens of both countries and that they can and should represent an example in the whole region of the Western Balkans. They also announced intensification of economic cooperation.

At the session that took place during mid-February, the Government of Montenegro passed the Draft Law on the Ratification of the Protocol on the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia to NATO and sent it to Parliament for adoption under the shortened procedure.

The rationale of the proposed law states that, by reaching a historic agreement with Greece on the new name in June 2018, the integration of the Republic of North Macedonia into NATO, after many years of stagnation, marked significant progress and at the NATO Summit in July 2018, Macedonia was invited to start accession talks with the Alliance. With the adoption of constitutional changes in the Parliament and the ratification of the Prespa Agreement by the Greek Parliament, the conditions for the signing of the Protocol on the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia to NATO were created at the North Atlantic Council meeting (NAC) on 6 February 2019.

22 May 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović received credentials from newly appointed, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of the Republic of Egypt, HE. Said Hindam, Georgia, HE. Zaal Gogsadze, Republic of Indonesia, HE. Muhammad Chandra Widya Yudha, Federative Republic of Brazil HE. Eduardo Botelho Barbosa and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam HE. Dang Tran Phong.

After receiving their credentials, President Đukanović received the ambassadors individually and welcomed them to Montenegro and wished them successful diplomatic missions in mutual interest.

The President informed the new ambassadors about Montenegro’s stable and dynamic way towards achieving strategic goals, stressing that we want to be part of a developed European community and that modern Montenegrin society is based on the European value system. He stressed that Montenegro is committed to its reforms and democratic and economic development, which is recognized in the international community primarily by Montenegro's accession to NATO and positive assessments of progress in European integration.

In conversation with the Ambassador of the Republic of Egypt, the President pointed to the traditionally good relations between the two countries on the basis of the partnership from the time of the establishment of the non-aligned movement and the values and traditions we inherit. In this spirit, we are very open to promoting good relations between the two nations and states, the President said. Montenegro, he said, is following the situation in the region around Egypt and highly appreciates Egypt's responsible attitude in relation to the issues of the migrant crisis.

During the talks, it was estimated that at the bilateral level, Montenegro and Egypt have opportunities to strengthen cooperation in the field of economy, agriculture, tourism, maritime transport through the connection of two ports and culture. In this context, the intensification of political contacts at the highest level was encouraged, as well as the establishment of the practice of regular foreign policy consultations. Following a positive example of cooperation with Orascom, a stronger presence of investors from that country in Montenegro was encouraged. Ambassador Hindam emphasized that his mandate as the Ambassador in Montenegro is an honor, appreciating the successes of our country and the role of President Đukanović in these processes. As a contribution to the creation of stronger relations between the two countries, he emphasized the initiative to form a business council and a parliamentary cooperation society.

In his conversation with Ambassador Gogsadze, the President of Montenegro expressed satisfaction with the relations between Montenegro and Georgia, stressing that the experience of ambassadors in the countries of the region will be a positive impetus for further development of cooperation. Joint foreign policy goals have put two countries closer to each other in the past period, Đukanović said, recalling Montenegro's support to Georgia in the path of consistent and sovereign achievement of strategic goals. In addition to political, Montenegro also wants to improve economic cooperation between the two countries. In this regard, it was estimated that the contractual base should be strengthened in order to create the conditions for connecting business communities and chambers of commerce.

With satisfaction for the results of cooperation in the field of defense, interest was expressed for better traffic connections and mutual representation of cultural heritage and creativity of Montenegro and Georgia.

Ambassador of Georgia, said that he will proudly perform the function of the ambassador in Montenegro and thanked for the support of our country in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration. The two countries are connected with similar traditions and history, and with the opening of the honorary consulate in Podgorica, there are good bases for joint projects in the fields of agriculture and tourism, the ambassador said.

Montenegro and Indonesia have very good relations, and chances for their further improvement are recognized in the field of economy and tourism, said the President Đukanović. In the spirit of friendship we are closely following the events in Indonesia, he said, welcoming the high level of development of that country on the global map. The first step in strengthening the economic ties between the two countries is the preparation of agreements in the field of economy, said the President.

Ambassador Yudha thanked for the warm welcome of the Montenegrin people and institutions, stressing his readiness to work diligently to valorize significant potential for cooperation, primarily in trade and tourism.

President Đukanović welcomed the newly-appointed Ambassador of Brazil, expressing satisfaction with good relations without open issues, as well as potentials for enhancing cooperation, especially through the exchange of experiences in energy and tourism. With the already established cultural cooperation, political contacts should be dynamized in the future, the President said. He welcomed the positive processes in that country, in particular the departure from the recession and the improvement of Brazil's relations with the most developed countries of the world and the NATO Alliance to which Montenegro belongs.

Ambassador Barbosa expressed satisfaction with President’s dedicated relationship and knowledge of the current situation in his country, saying that the regain of the Brazilian economy strength is an opportunity to boost co-operation with Montenegro, which is a personal challenge for him. Recalling the friendship of the two countries, he pointed to the high quality of cooperation in the multilateral framework.

President Đukanović also spoke with the Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and said that good relations between the two countries can be further improved by joint initiatives. He welcomed the efforts of that country on a regional and international level in the promotion of peace, stability and development. Such a principle is the heritage of Montenegro, which is not limited by geographical size to strongly promote high standards and multiethnic democracy, Đukanović said.

It is jointly assessed that the two countries can cooperate in economy and tourism on the principles of a healthy environment, the production of energy from renewable sources and the production of organic food. In that sense, the experience of Montenegro and its prestigious position on the tourist map can be valuable to Vietnam, said Ambassador Phong.

May 22, 2019 - The opposition must get caught up and finally begin to apply the Agreement on the future. This was announced last night from the Independence Day protest, organized by the ODUPRISE movement. It was the 11th gathering within the public campaign asking for the system and consciousness changes in Montenegrin society. 

May 21, 2019 - Ratka Jovanović Vukotić is a columnist of the daily newspaper Vijesti and a one of the five-member committee that initiated the movement ODUPRISE. We spoke with the experienced Montenegrin journalist about the influence of the media on the situation in society, the opposition's actions in the context of civil protests, and the perspectives of the fundamental changes citizens are advocating

• How is media in Montenegro professional in presenting the real situation in society? Is the responsibility for public media services at the center of control and power, or a part of the responsibility of the journalists themselves? Is it the position of some international organizations that the media scene in Montenegro is like reporting from the war zones?

"Montenegrin media collapsed together with Montenegrin society, but this is primarily the fault of journalists. It had to be a matter of choice, as well as freedom, but it costs a lot, especially in an autocratic regime like ours. An honorable journalist does not agree that he is lying in any system, wherever he lives and whatever pressures he has been exposed to, especially not for a hundred or two hundred euros higher salary.

The breaking point for the collapse of Montenegrin journalism was the so-called AB revolution and the upcoming war because of which it was organized. Those who held to themselves chose freedom and truth. Most of the journalists, unfortunately, agreed to lie, cheat, spread hatred, and magnify the evil. The majority of the regime allowed for decades to train new generations of journalists, and now we are at the bottom. In fact, below the bottom, because the fact that several free media is still alive is no comfort.

After thirty years of cutting down, it will take at least a bit more than journalism until our country returns to the initial level, which was not particularly high anyway. Provided that journalism as a profession survives, it seems to me that anyone who knows the alphabet will soon become a journalist.

The editorial policy of the RTCG is dangerous to all residents of Montenegro since the 1990s, and the two short-term attempts at liberation did not change that. Any government, even it is relatively tolerant, wants to influence the image that the public media service broadcasts about it. At the same time, every journalist, also the relatively professional, has to resist it severely. Otherwise - they are not a journalist.

This type of rebellion is implied, for it is a high price paid in a society like ours, but public services without free and moral journalists are not possible. The Council can decide what it wants; the director can order whatever he wants- it is enough that only thirty journalists, organized through their screen, publicly rebel - this mastodon will collapse from the ground. Unfortunately, this has never happened. And he will not. If this regime ever falls, the so-called Public service will, in the same composition, continue to be a servant to some new authority which, of course, will answer.

• The movement ODUPRISE, in addition to the resignations of the system's leaders, requires and resigns the director and management of the Public Service RTCG. At the same time, the Public Service initially ignored and minimized the movement, and was subsequently very biased, protecting the interests of the clique in power, reporting on the protests and other activities of ODUPRISE leaders. What about the rest of the media scene?

How the so-called Public service reported on the protests of citizens, because of which there is a public service in every normal country, its administration explained the best. On several occasions, it has been publicly announced that RTCG is defending - the state?! From who? The citizens who are the state, who give tens of millions of euros a year to hear full and valid information, and who receive a billboard for advertising the president, the government, and the DPS?!

In the report from the first protest, they agreed that the opposition organized it, although some of the parties publicly insulted the organizers and common sense, while the rest publicly announced that they did not know anything about the ODUPRISE movement. In the meantime, the so-called Public service has so far trapped itself in nebulous constructions; now we are listening to their cracks that are less crowded in the street. I do not understand, do they want citizens now? When there were 20,000 on the street, they claimed that we were 5,000. When 5,000 come out, they're concerned that there's a small number. Who is guilty? In the first place- journalists. Report live from the protests, have the opportunity, to tell the truth, not what the editor ordered, and why not do it - ask them. If the reason is fear, then let them greet journalism.

How do others report? Those I follow are doing it professionally, especially Vijesti and Dan, although, strict as I am, I am finding faults also there. Reporting of In4S is also correct, but in the columns, there is firing at the protest organizers. I have no right to object, I am a journalist from the old generation, and I respect the rule that the facts are sacred, and the comment is free. Weekly Monitor is, as always, on the side of freedom.

• Is your assessment that ODRRISE, having joined a common platform with opposition political entities, lost part of the support of citizens, and received support from some new ones? Is the Agreement on the future the key to ensuring the essential unity of the opposition over common goals?

I will answer you in my name. The Agreement on the future has also benefited both Montenegro and the Montenegrin opposition, but not to the movement ODUPRISE. I'm not surprised, the experience from the LSCG has taught me caution not only when it comes to power, but also the opposition. In the beginning, I wanted to establish cooperation with the opposition as late as possible, to organize the protests alone as much as possible, knowing that the changes will not begin before autumn. My friends prayed not to spread pessimism, but I was just realistic.

Euphoria, spreading over the unexpectedly sudden but anticipated temporary mass of protests, has made many citizens naively think how crime and corruption that have been built into the system for 30 years can be demolished in three months. Referring to some radicalization, part of the opposition contributed to it.

What is radical - let's call the president to resign for 15 nights, so that he will be shaken and so emotional to decide to go? Should we fall into the Assembly and do the same thing that this government did 30 years ago? Or shoot the prosecutor with eggs or onions?

In no way, we - among other things - resist the advanced Montenegrin primitivism. We are fighting for necessary changes to the system as a whole, and resignations are just the way to that. That's why I continue to argue that persistence and perseverance on peaceful protests are far more important than mass.

To return to the Agreement on the Future- I accepted the position of the majority in the Organizing Committee when I saw that the party members systematically joined the Street. It was clear to me that no further cooperation was possible with the opposition, but I did not expect much from it or the Agreement.

I was hoping that the Agreement would not be misunderstood at all, but it was. After the signing of the Agreement on stage, the number of citizens in protest halved. In addition to forcing The Day to radicalization, this Agreement on the cooperation of ODUPRISE with the opposition was an additional cause of the fall in energy and the number of demonstrators.

Citizens interpreted the Agreement as a definitive unification of the opposition and the movement, although it only refers to tasks in the struggle to the same goal. Later, it turned out that not every party has the same intense, but it is an old and already told story.

• Already at the beginning of the ODUPRISE campaign, you highlighted what everyone ought to be aware that the fight will not be easy and requires the persistence of the citizens so that the desired changes come. In your opinion, is ODUPRISE already generating positive changes in Montenegro?

The goal of the ODUPRISE movement is from the beginning a system change, which the communists would say - from upgrading to the base. In addition to autocracy, robbery, theft of electoral choice, corruption, crime, there are many more severe problems. The upgrade completely infected the base by spreading the idea that everything was allowed, that laws could be selectively applied. And to such an extent that, in addition to a radical change in the system, a fundamental shift in consciousness is necessary. Something like returning to "factory settings."

See how the authorities are formed in municipalities, even when the opposition wins. Five director positions in public companies, four in managing boards, two in secretariats, and then all of them are hiring their own and at lower levels. Why, when they fought against it? Because those who voted them consider it quite natural for them to get something for the vote - privileges, jobs, money, whatever.

For basic system and awareness changes, it will take at least 30 years. The movement ODUPRISE did what it did - it called on citizens to resist, wake up tired energy, and spread hope that changes are possible, send messages that everything depends on us, that no one from the side will help us if we do not help ourselves. We gathered in the same street; thousands of people who were separated for decades, and we were able to bring all the opposition parties and all opposition MPs to the same place.

From the beginning, we have been exposed to filthy bastards and lies, primarily the authorities and its services, not to mention the others. The so-called intellectual elite did not favor us, some of its honorable exceptions only confirmed the majority. The big problem was there, and there remained money for the stage, sound, and other technical issues. We already owe six to seven thousand euros, which we will have to return from our pockets because part of the opposition has long stopped supporting the protests both in money and on the street.

Are we satisfied with the results – no, we're not. Have we done everything we could - we have. Anyone who thinks they can do more, better and faster, is welcome to join ODUPRISE. It is worth fighting for a better Montenegro as long as there are young rebels, like Jelena, two Mladen, Nikola, Slavisa, Dragan. If not for them, maybe after 30 years, I would have raised my hands from the liberation of people who would rather bear the burden of slavery than take the responsibility that freedom brings.

• How do you evaluate the attitude of international organizations and member states of the international community towards the movement of citizens that appeared in Montenegro?

If I present everything that I think about the policy of the West towards anyone and anything in Montenegro, I will close all doors to the ODUPRISE movement, which are just a bit open anyway. Therefore, only briefly: for 1423 days, I watched the burning of Sarajevo, from the so-called international community I do not expect anything!

May 21, 2019 - The citizens' movement ODUPRISE, as announced earlier by its leaders, will organize a new protest on Tuesday, 21 May in Podgorica, marking the Independence Day of Montenegro.

One of the leaders of the movement, Džemal Perovic, said the protest was called "For the Independence of the Envelope" and is expected to support all free citizens who want an independent state, free from the clash of organized crime and corruption.

"We expect that side by side with the citizens are all signers of the Agreement on the future, who, with their political and moral credibility, have guaranteed that they will strive for the realization of the principles and goals of the agreement signed with the free citizens of this country," Perovic said. "Citizens will look for their faces in the masses, seeking to see who remains loyal to the Agreement."

"Political differences between opposing subjects are normal and understandable, but this is the time when it must be clear who will break this corrupt regime," Perovic said.

The movement ODUPRISE said they will not give up on the struggle for a free Montenegro with all those "who recognize the importance of active participation in change."

Today's gathering is the 11th protest organized by the ODUPRISE movement. The protest campaign started after a video was published proving the DPS campaign for the parliamentary elections in October 2016 was financed illegally. 

The protest will take place in front of the Montenegrin Assembly building starting at 8 pm.

19 May 2019 - The European Commission has been preparing the 2019 progress reports and results of the elections to the European Parliament won’t affect the Progress Report for Montenegro, an EU official told Pobjeda daily.

“EU Commission has been drafting the 2019 progress reports. Their adoption will take place probably in late spring,” confirmed EU official during a recent interview.

The elections to the European Parliament will be held from 23 to 26 May. The EU Commission’s 2019 progress reports will be released on 29 May, but Pobjeda’s interlocutor didn’t want to confirm the date.

“In regards to whether the election results will affect the reports, the answer is "no", and on whether the reports have already been drafted, I can say that these are factual assessments”, the high-ranking EU official explained. He added that the Commission is currently working on an enlargement report for 2019. The report adoption will most likely be in late spring 2019.

The content of the Progress Report for MNE is unknown but Pobjeda’s interlocutor, who has been involved in the negotiation talks, said that there are several main areas of interest for Brussels. “And that is impartiality of the Agency for Anti-Corruption and elections for the RTCG Council. As for the Svetozar Marović case, Brussels will focus on Serbia in this matter, as it hasn’t extradited according to Montenegro’s demand.”

He believes that the European Commission will try to be positive, but the EU’s Council won’t be elected based on the proposals from the reports on the Western Balkan countries until the final results of the elections are known.

“The Council’s position towards the recommendations of the EC will depend on the election results, especially when it comes to Albania. Since, 2016, the EC has been proposing that Albania should start negotiations, but the situation now got even worse,” the interlocutor noted.

The Brussels official also highlighted that the balancing clause must be objectivised to the end, so if Montenegro does not open the remaining Chapter 8, or does not close some of the opened chapters, Serbia should have the same treatment as Montenegro in its accession process.

Source: Pobjeda